Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The UK Government has announced a pledge to help improve access to UK markets for the world’s poorest countries when it leaves the European Union.
The commitment means that 48 countries across the globe including Zambia will continue to benefit from duty-free exports into the UK on all goods other than arms and ammunition.
In a statement, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet OBE, says the announcement reaffirms the UK’s commitment to Zambia’s development by providing reassurance to developing countries like Zambia who are concerned they may lose their preferential access to the UK after Brexit.”
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said Britain’s departure from the EU is an opportunity to step up to its commitments to the rest of the world, not step away from them.
And International Development Secretary Priti Patel said free and fair trade has been the greatest liberator of the world’s poor, and that today’s announcement shows the UK’s commitment to helping developing countries grow their economies and reduce poverty through trade.
Zambia exports an average of 43 million Pounds of goods to the UK a year. In 2015, Zambian imports from the UK were worth over £124 million.