Government Critical Imports And Supply Chain Strategy Launched

Britain's first supply chain resiliance strategy has been announced

The UK government launched Britain’s first Critical Imports and Supply Chain Strategy today (17 January) aimed at protecting reliable access to the goods which are critical to ensuring the UK’s economy, essential services and national security. In a statement, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said that these range from the semiconductors essential to modern electronics to the medicines that are used daily within the National Health Service. 

In a fast changing world, events that have tested the resilience of global supply chains include the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and disruption to shipping routes. The recent crises in the Red Sea and Panama Canal bear this out.

Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at DBT, launching the strategy at an event at Heathrow Airport, said that the new initiative “builds on existing sector-specific initiatives already announced by the government, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Plan and the recent semiconductors, batteries and critical mineral strategies, to provide a whole economy approach.”

Five priority areas have been identified in achieving the strategy’s goals:

• Making the UK government a centre of excellence for supply chain analysis and risk assessment
• Removing critical import barriers to support the UK’s business-friendly environment
• Building the UK’s response to global supply chain shocks
• Ensuring the UK can adapt to long-term trends
• Expanding collaboration between government, business and academia

The government defines critical imports as goods which are critical to the UK security and prosperity, either essential for the operation of the UK’s designated critical national infrastructure (CNI) sectors and/or the success of the government’s 5 growth sectors.

The 13 sectors encompassed in CNI sectors are currently:

• Chemicals
• Civil nuclear
• Communications
• Defence
• Emergency services
• Energy
• Finance
• Food
• Government
• Health
• Space
• Transport
• Water

The UK’s five growth sectors as set out by the Chancellor in January 2023 are:

• Creative industries;
• Digital technology;
• Green industries;
• Life sciences;
• Advanced manufacturing including automotive and aerospace

More details of the Critical Imports And Supply Chain Strategy can be found here

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