Birmingham, UK (Punjab Outlook Bureau)– Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlining a comprehensive set of measures to protect British businesses from unfair international trade practices. The reforms, unveiled during the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., aim to ensure a level playing field for UK companies and strengthen the government’s commitment to fair, open, and rules-based global trade.
“The Chancellor’s announcement is a step in the right direction,” said Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston. “It sends a strong signal that Britain will not tolerate practices like dumping and will act decisively to protect the interests of our businesses and workers.”
The measures include increased support for businesses to report unfair practices, better monitoring of trade flows, and a review of the customs treatment of low-value imports. British retailers such as Next and Sainsbury’s have long argued that the current system—allowing goods under £135 to be imported without customs duty—puts them at a disadvantage compared to international competitors.
“These are concerns I have heard time and again from local businesses in Birmingham and across the West Midlands,” Gill added. “Our high streets and manufacturers must not be undercut by products that don’t meet the same standards or pay the same duties. Fair trade is about fairness for all—businesses, workers, and consumers.”
The announcement also follows recent government action including tariff suspensions on 89 products to reduce costs for British households and industries, and new support for the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to British steel and a new industrial strategy focused on growing and buying British.
“This is about rebuilding a resilient economy that rewards enterprise, supports innovation, and champions British-made goods,” said Gill. “The Chancellor’s Plan for Change reflects the values we need in modern Britain: fairness, ambition, and strategic investment in our future.”
Preet Kaur Gill MP reiterated her support for British businesses and pledged to continue working closely with local industry leaders, trade bodies, and government ministers to ensure these reforms deliver meaningful benefits on the ground.