BCC President Martha Lane Fox: UK Must Commit To Free Trade

7th May 2025

President of the BCC, Martha Lane Fox, will use a speech at Mansion House to urge the government to commit to free trade and to pursue an improved EU deal.

She will make the plea at the Mansion House Business and Trade Dinner on the evening of Wednesday May 7. In her address, she will also urge the Government to prioritise the BCC’s top six recommendations on improving Brexit. 

Baroness Lane-Fox is expected to say: 

“In an era where traditional globalisation is faltering, the UK stands at a critical crossroads, and our response is becoming increasingly urgent. 

“Building economic resilience must be at the heart of our international relationships and business must be part of that conversation. 

“In an environment where President Trump is slapping tariffs on key trading partners, export expansion isn’t’ merely desirable, it is essential for economic survival. 

“That’s why the upcoming EU-UK Summit is so important. We need concrete results. The absurdity of the bureaucracy is real. A British chocolate producer told the BCC they can ship to the US in two days, yet they can wait up to two weeks for deliveries to France. 

“These issues aren’t just minor inconveniences but major economic drags undermining our competitiveness. The BCC has set out its top six aims for the summit and these must be met if business is to flourish. 

“But we must also remember that the US and the EU aren’t the only shows in town. A free trade deal with India has been agreed. Canada is open to negotiations once more and the Indo-Pacific offers a gateway to a whole new world of opportunity. 

“We must also not be shy about our considerable strengths. We have world leading positions in financial and professional services, and creative industries. We have 90 world-class universities and attractive laws in business governance and intellectual property frameworks. 

“The government’s forthcoming Trade Strategy must make the most of our assets. It should be true to our values on fair and open trade and commit to lower tariffs with key trading partners where we can. 

“Digital trade needs a renewed focus both with key partners and through the World Trade Organisation to improve productivity and reduce costs.?? 

“And we must lean more heavily into our trade in services, where the UK can develop the fastest export growth. 

“None of this will be easy but if the Trade Strategy delivers and negotiations with the US and EU are successful, then our future can still be bright.”