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British Steel Wins £70M Export Order in Nigeria Ports Deal

UK Export Finance (UKEF) announced a £746 million financing guarantee to support the redevelopment of Nigeria's Lagos Port Complex and TinCan Island Port Complex. British Steel secured a record £70 million contract to supply 120,000 tonnes of steel billets to construction companies Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria as part of the deal, with at least £236 million in total supplier contracts directed to British companies.

Country Risk and Cover Policy and Indicators

UK Export Finance published updated country cover policy and risk appetite guidance providing country-specific market risk appetite classifications and cover availability for cash/short-term and medium/long-term export finance support. Countries such as Afghanistan receive no cover while others like Albania receive full cover availability with at least £5 billion market risk appetite. The guidance is informational only and does not constitute a commitment to provide cover for any specific contract.

UK Regional Export Finance Manager Contacts Updated April 2026

UK Export Finance has published updated contact information for its regional Export Finance Managers as of 1 April 2026. The guidance lists regional heads and managers by geographic area, including Northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Midlands, Wales, South West, and London and South East. Businesses seeking export finance support can contact their local manager directly or email customer.service@ukexportfinance.gov.uk.

UKEF Secures £128M Submarine Rescue Deals With Indonesia

UK Export Finance announced two export deals worth £128 million to supply submarine rescue vehicle systems to the Indonesian Navy. Over £67 million in supply contracts have been awarded to UK suppliers Submarine Manufacturing and Products Ltd (Bristol) and Forum Energy Technologies Ltd (York), supporting jobs in the domestic maritime and defence industry.

Vivobarefoot Achieves 85% Sales Growth with £16M UKEF-Backed Loans

UK Export Finance announced that British footwear company Vivobarefoot grew sales by 85% over four years, from £49 million to £91 million, supported by over £16 million in government-backed finance. HSBC UK issued three General Export Facility loans totaling £16.2 million (£3.8 million in 2022, £5.7 million in 2024, and £6.7 million in 2025). The company employs over 120 people across Bristol and London.

UK Doubles Sudan Aid to £15m for 1.8 Million People

The UK FCDO has announced it will protect its £146 million humanitarian funding pledge for Sudan in 2026-2027, more than doubling support for frontline responders and local aid groups to reach 1.8 million people in need. The Foreign Secretary announced this at the International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

UK/EU Agreement regarding Cooperation on the Application of their Respective Competition Laws

The UK and EU have concluded an international treaty on competition law cooperation, presented to Parliament on 15 April 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between UK and EU competition authorities in enforcing their respective competition laws, including coordination on investigations, information sharing, and avoidance of conflicts. The treaty is referenced as MS No.4/2026 and is available as a 2.3 MB PDF document.

UK Statement on Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation in Great Lakes Region at UN Security Council

The UK FCDO delivered a statement at the UN Security Council expressing concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly eastern DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda. The statement noted millions of internally displaced persons in eastern DRC and hundreds of thousands of refugees in neighbouring states, with over 2,900 human rights violations documented by the UN in the past six months. The UK called for humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and support for regional humanitarian appeals, having provided over $130m in humanitarian funding last year.

UK Youth Statement at 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development

The UK, through its Youth Delegate at the 59th UN Commission on Population and Development, delivered a statement reaffirming unwavering commitment to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental to global stability, equality, and Sustainable Development Goals. The statement champions youth-centred, rights-based approaches and emphasizes the necessity of multilateralism to protect these freedoms worldwide.

UK Condemns Violence Against UN Peacekeepers: Statement at UN Security Council

The UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN delivered a statement at the UN Security Council condemning violence against UN peacekeepers. The statement addresses attacks across multiple missions including UNMISS, MINUSCA, UNISFA, and UNIFIL. The UK expressed sympathy for killed peacekeepers, recalled that attacks may constitute war crimes, and urged accountability and strengthened protection measures.

19 Technical Excellence Colleges, £175M, 65,000 Learners

The UK government announced 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges backed by £175 million in funding. The colleges will provide training for approximately 65,000 learners in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital sectors. Funding comes from the Department for Education (£97M), Ministry of Defence (£50M), and Department for Business and Trade (£28M).

Consultation on NDA Rules to Protect Workers from Workplace Abuse

The UK Department for Business and Trade has launched a 12-week consultation on proposed regulations to prevent employers from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. The consultation seeks views on conditions NDAs must meet to remain valid, and who workers can speak to about their experiences. Responses are due by 8 July 2026, with new protections expected to take effect in 2027.

Letter from Secretary of State Peter Kyle to Business and Trade Committee on Consumer Protection System Review

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade wrote to the Chair of the Business and Trade Committee outlining steps the government is taking to review the consumer protection system. The letter was published on 15 April 2026 following correspondence dated 2 April 2026.

Preference Utilisation of UK Trade in Goods, 2024

The UK Department for Business and Trade announces the upcoming release of official statistics on preference utilisation of UK trade in goods for 2024, scheduled for 23 April 2026. The release will provide data on the extent to which UK goods imports and exports utilised tariff preferences under preferential trade agreements (PTAs), including the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). This is a statistical announcement only and does not create any new regulatory obligations.