Westminster Business Forum

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Priorities for UK digital services in international markets

October 2023


Starting from: £99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF


This conference discussed what is needed to enable UK financial and professional services to trade in international markets.


Policymakers and stakeholders discussed what is needed to address barriers for professional services exports and reduce uncertainty for firms.


The agenda looked at:


  • enabling the open flow of data across borders, and managing the increasing impact of data localisation
  • progress, and the approach to negotiations with key partners to address these issues
  • priorities for stakeholders of all scales in the UK financial sector
  • frameworks to support the flow of trusted data through FTAs and other international forums
  • how the UK’s policy and regulatory landscape can best support a simple and efficient digital trading system, while ensuring privacy and security

We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Rupert Daniels, Director, Services and Skills, Department for Business and Trade; Professor David Collins, Professor of International Economic Law, City, University of London; Vivienne Artz, Data Strategy & Privacy Policy Advisor, Centre for Information Policy Leadership; Nick Davies, Director, Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation, International Chamber of Commerce; Sally Jones, UK Trade Strategy and Brexit Leader, EY; and Stephen Booth, International Strategy Manager, TheCityUK.


Overall, areas for discussion included:


  • priorities: supporting digital trade through FTAs and other agreements and forums - responding to increasing data localisation - achieving data equivalence - reducing uncertainty for firms 
  • international landscape: key global developments in digital trade cooperation - what can be learned for the UK 
  • tackling barriers: developing and standardising digital processes - building a more accessible digital trading system - support for SMEs 
  • infrastructure: priorities for development, resilience and security moving forward - balancing safe and practical standards with the open flow of data 
  • regulation: simplifying and streamlining digital trading systems, including regulatory clarity around day-to-day digital operations - priorities for consumer protection and choice
  • policy: next steps for supporting digital services in the UK’s international trade agenda

The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DBT; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Finance, NI; DfE; DfT; DLUHC; DSIT; FCDO; GLD; HMRC; HM Treasury; Home Office; ICO; NAO; Ofcom; UKIB; UKSA; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords.



This on-demand pack includes

  • A full video recording of the conference as it took place, with all presentations, Q&A sessions, and remarks from chairs
  • An automated transcript of the conference
  • Copies of the slides used to accompany speaker presentations (subject to permission
  • Access to on-the-day materialfs, including speaker biographies, attendee lists and the agenda