Committees

Business and Trade Committee

Commons Select Committee

The Business and Trade Committee scrutinises the policy, spending and administration of the Department for Business and Trade and its public bodies.

Our Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls scrutinises key elements of the UK Government’s economic security regime, and considers whether more needs to be done to ensure that its strategy can meet the challenges of an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.

Previous publications on the scrutiny of International Trade can be found on the website of the International Trade Committee, which was disbanded in April 2023.

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8 current inquiries

Inquiries allow committees to consider oral and written evidence on a particular topic. They usually result in the publication of a report.

View all inquiries
UK trade with the EU
Report:
Published
On 22 June 2026
Govt. response:
Overdue
Since 22 August 2026
Opened 8 April 2026
UK trade with the US
Report:
Published
On 4 July 2026
Govt. response:
Due by
On 4 September 2026
Opened 8 April 2026
Artificial Intelligence, business and the future of the workforce
Opened 10 March 2026
China and the UK economy
Opened 5 March 2026
Competition and market functioning in the UK live music industry
Report:
Published
On 24 May 2026
Govt. response:
Overdue
Since 24 July 2026
Opened 4 December 2025
Financing the real economy
Report:
Published
On 7 June 2026
Govt. response:
Overdue
Since 7 August 2026
Opened 4 August 2025
Small business strategy
Report:
Published
On 7 July 2026
Opened 16 June 2025
Industrial Strategy
Report:
Published
On 6 June 2025
Govt. response:
Published
On 12 September 2025
Opened 28 January 2025

Non-inquiry work

Pre-appointment hearings
People nominated to certain public offices may be examined by a committee to assess their suitability and plans for the role.
Non-inquiry sessions
Non-inquiry sessions are brief packages of work that will not necessarily result in a report. They may be used to revisit previous inquiry topics or take evidence on a topical matter.
Regular evidence sessions
Some committees take evidence from certain officeholders or organisations on a regular basis outside the structure of an inquiry.

Latest news

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Chair of Business and Trade Committee responds to President Trump’s imposition of new trade tariffs on the UK and other economic partners
Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Liam Byrne MP, responds to the US administration's announcement of a series of new tariffs on trade partners.
24 July 2026
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Government must think again on plan for Britain's small businesses
Ahead of Secretary of State Peter Kyle’s appearance on Tuesday 7 July, the Business and Trade Committee has asked the Department to reconsider the Government’s “inadequate” response to proposals to improve UK plans for small business growth.
7 July 2026
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“Build, don’t beg” – BTC reports on how to deal with tariff-warring US administration
After a year negotiating with the tariff-warring US administration the outcome is primarily sectoral tariff mitigations, rather than a new economic relationship between the UK and the US.
4 July 2026

Latest publications

View all publications
Letter to UK Export Finance relating to their response to the Committee’s report on Investing in the UK economy, 28 July 2026
Inquiry Financing the real economy
Open PDF
78KB
Correspondence
Letter to the Secretary of State relating to the inclusion of Fujitsu on Government procurement frameworks, 28 July 2026
Work Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice for sub-postmasters (Non-inquiry session)
Open PDF
102KB
Correspondence
Letter to the Secretary of State relating to recent changes to the machinery of government, 22 July 2026
Work The work of the Department for Business and Trade (Regular evidence sessions)
Open PDF
99KB
Correspondence

Useful information

FAQs

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We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.