Notes to Editors
1.
The Department for Business & Trade press release: the Prime Minister announcements of the UK’ s deal to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) can be found
here.
2.
The CPTPP: top 10 benefits for the UK has been listed online by the DBT, a link to the document is
here.
3.
Exports potential. The UK railway industry has a global reputation, so there is a great potential to grow rail exports, boosting UK trade and increasing resilience of the UK supply chain, as laid out in RIA’s recent submission to the then International Trade Select Committee, report
here. The CPTPP deal is a further enabler for UK rail exports and the deal covers some of our key trade asks, which are:
•
Rail to be recognised as a key export sector, for both goods and services, including through support for SMEs, in the negotiation and delivery of free trade deals;
•
Access to an appropriately skilled workforce and mobility for skilled UK workers – including mutual recognition of appropriate qualifications. The rail industry needs workers at all skills levels to support its ability to compete globally;
•
Consistent application of standards – RIA and our members want to see mutual recognition/ equivalence and non-discrimination as core principles in all UK trade agreements. This would support the competitiveness of the UK rail supply sector and ensure economies of scale;
•
Smooth cross border trade rules – which minimise cost and delay and avoid trade distortionary tariffs;
•
Public procurement – commitment to visible and accessible pipelines and reciprocal rules on market access and domestic content. As rail is primarily funded by the public purse throughout the EU and internationally, this is a key concern for the UK rail supply chain; and
•
Opportunities for collaboration on rail research and development – to unlock new partnerships and support and build on UK rail supply chain and university strengths in innovation and research.
4.
About RIA: RIA is the trade association for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It now has over 350 companies in membership covering all aspects of rolling stock and infrastructure supply and a diverse range of products and services. As well as most of the Tier 1 contractors and large, multi-national companies, over 60% of RIA’s membership base is comprised of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). RIA recognises that equality, diversity and inclusion drive innovation, financial performance and success. Together with Women in Rail, RIA is promoting an ‘Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter’ for rail, which has the potential to support social mobility, grow UK STEM skills, create local opportunities, and increase the talent pool from which the future leadership of the rail sector will be drawn. The Charter reached 200 signatory organisations last November. www.riagb.org.uk
5.
Rail and the UK economy: The rail network remains one of the UK’s most valuable assets, with extraordinary potential to support green growth and wider social benefits for communities right across the UK. A 2021 report produced by Oxford Economics shows that the rail industry supports:
•
£43 billion GVA in economic growth;
•
710,000 jobs;
•
£14 billion in tax revenue each year; and
•
For every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 of income is generated in the wider economy.
•
Rail related exports have been revised downwards in the 2021 edition, with rail-related exports put at £600 million for 2019, versus the previous estimate of £800 million for 2016.