Exports growth needs a more active industrial strategy, says TUC

9 February 2016

Commenting on new trade figures published today by the Office for National Statistics, which show a widening of the calendar year trade deficit as exports sales have continued to decline, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Another poor set of trade and export figures is no surprise given how little the government is doing for industry. Ministers’ poor handling of the steel crisis shows that Britain needs a far more active industrial strategy.

“Without greater government support for strategic industries, and higher investment in skills and infrastructure, manufacturing and exports will continue to underperform.”

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