The UK’s creative industries are set to benefit from more tailored export support, as the government announces a new forum for state and industry actors to help businesses scale and sell overseas.
There’s less good news for the UK’s car sector, however, which saw a substantial decrease in exports last month compared to July 2025’s figures.
Creative sector export boost
The government has announced a new trade forum for creative industries at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
The Creative Trade Forum will be a partnership between government and industry, facilitating more export opportunities for creative businesses from film, TV, music and other arts sectors.
With £10m in funding from Innovate UK, the forum aims to support creative businesses scale and better showcase their products and services internationally.
YouTube, the British Film Institute, WPP, the British Council, BBC Studios and Goalhanger have all been announced as organisations providing expertise as part of the initiative.
The creative sector was one of eight high-growth industries highlighted in the Labour government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The sector received its own tailored plan which outlined how the government aimed to boost international sales, including through an increase in export finance and by running more creative trade missions.
Minister for reindustrialisation, Blair McDougall, said that the forum would be “bringing together industry experts and leaders to drive investment and opportunity for British firms in new global markets”.
“Through our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re doubling down on one of Britain’s fastest-growing sectors and biggest success stories to boost good growth and jobs in every corner of the country, and cement our world-leading creative reputation.”
Australia-EU deal comes unstuck
Having concluded a £5bn trade deal back in March, the EU-Australia trade deal has hit a snag with Australian parliamentary approval.
Politico reports that the deal could lack for support in Canberra’s upper house – the Senate – which isn’t controlled by Anthony Albanese’s ruling Labor Party.
The opposition, the Liberal-National Coalition (26 seats), objects to the deal on environmental grounds, claiming the deal will permanently entrench Albanese’ climate policies.
Trade minister Don Farrell warned a business conference yesterday that the legislation “is not guaranteed” and that “there is no second chance with the EU if we choose to walk away from this deal”.
The deal would enable duty-free trade for 98% of the overall value of Australia’s goods exports, and 94.8% of the value of its agricultural exports, including no tariffs at all on goods like wine, barley, honey, onions, carrots, seafood, olive oil and tree nuts.
Tariff-free quotas will also be introduced for goods still subject to tariffs, like beef, most dairy products, sugar and sheep meat.
UK car production depressed
Trade figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders found that UK car exports were significantly down last year.
According to the latest monthly release of stats from the trade group, exports were down over 15% on the previous year, although exports still made up almost three quarters of total UK car sales.
Shipments to all major markets were down, including the EU (-15.2%), US (-17.7%), Turkey (-18.5%), China (-36.9%) and Japan (-24.4%).
Lower car exports were said to also have diminished UK vehicle production. July’s UK car production was down 11.6% on the same point in 2025.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said that “weaker overseas demand and fierce global competition” were compounding additional challenges within the sector.
“Meaningful and urgent reform of the ZEV Mandate, reduction of the UK’s sky-high energy costs and negotiations to safeguard free and fair trade with our largest and closest export market are essential to put UK automotive manufacturing back on a path to growth.”
Elsewhere in the trade headlines
· Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is set to join the EU’s State of the Union address amid US trade war
· International competition to improve AI systems spurred chipmaker Nvidia to double its revenue year-on-year, according to its latest earnings report.
Yesterday in trade
· Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on US imports
· China warned the US not to hit Chinese firms as part of its expanded Iran sanctions regime
· UK traders exporting to Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates or Uruguay were given the chance to contribute to a government consultation on how trade links with the nations could be strengthened
Read those stories and more here.
