The Department for International Trade and International Development has committed an additional £2.5 million of UK aid funding for the Commonwealth Standards Network (CSN) programme, pledging that it would continue to partner Commonwealth in championing free trade in the face of growing global challenges.
Senior Communications Officer at the Department of International Trade and International Development, Jessica Vickerage, said in a statement that the CSN works to increase the use of international standards across the Commonwealth, in order to promote inclusive intra-Commonwealth trade.
The statement added that the additional funding will help the CSN continue its valuable work to break down non-tariff barriers to trade and support institutions and exporters in developing countries to use standards, so they can access new markets and attract investment.
According to the statement, the UK will discuss with its appropriate partners the importance of promoting an open, fair and inclusive global rules-based system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its heart and underline the importance of fighting protectionism.
It further disclosed that the International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss yesterday addressed Commonwealth Ministers and High Commissioners at a reception to mark the start of the annual Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting.
The statement quoted Truss as saying at the reception in London that: “We face a challenging global outlook in which protectionist tendencies are increasingly on the rise. But we can and must seize the opportunity Brexit presents to take advantage of new partnerships with some of our oldest allies across the Commonwealth.