Europe and international relations

Rebecca EvansLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Future of Welsh Steel

I'll take the EU first. Obviously, we'll all be really concerned at the EU's announcement on the new tariff measures and what they will mean for the steel industry here in Wales. The UK Government is currently in negotiations on their steel measures, and I obviously can't comment on those…

Tagged for: “EU”Official Record

Alun DaviesLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Future of Welsh Steel

…today, when Donald Trump wakes up—I recognise that. But, in terms of trade with the US, trade with the European Union, where are we? We understand the damage that Brexit has done to our relationship with trade with the EU, and the profound damage it's done to the steel industry in the United…

Tagged for: “European Union”, “Brexit”, “EU”Official Record

Rebecca EvansLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Future of Welsh Steel

…production is such that compliance with social, labour and environmental law outside of the UK and EU is a significant issue', and contracting authorities can use that as a differentiator when selecting suppliers. So, again, that's something that I think would be welcomed by steel makers based here…

Tagged for: “EU”Official Record

Rebecca EvansLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

The Welsh Government's spending more now than we ever had on apprenticeships. Of course, Brexit was a significant issue in terms of how we were able to support apprentices. Of course, if there's more funding available for apprenticeships, I think it's always money well spent, and I and Jack Sargeant…

Tagged for: “Brexit”Official Record

Alun DaviesLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

Brexit was a part of it, I accept that. But, even without Brexit, there was a significant failure from the Welsh public sector to deliver the sort of enabling environment that the company probably required.

Tagged for: “Brexit”Official Record

Luke FletcherPlaid

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

Diolch, Cadeirydd. Just to stick with this point for just a moment on diaspora. I want to come back to Tom's question around why do you think organisations like Global Welsh—. And as critical as they are in Welsh Government's activities within this, I think it remains a bit unclear to me as to how…

Tagged for: “diaspora”Official Record

Rebecca EvansLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

…support also ministerial overseas visits when they take place. And we've also had a secondment into the Irish Government's department for foreign affairs. So, we are using that as well to learn lessons and to make engagement there to explore how the Welsh approach can consider successes from other…

Tagged for: “Irish Government”Official Record

Tom GiffardConservative

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

What inward investment outcomes can be linked to the Welsh Government's diaspora engagement action plan? And how much did the work of diaspora organisations, like Global Welsh and its 'Brain drain to brain gain' report, influence your approach throughout the plan's delivery?

Tagged for: “diaspora”Official Record

Rebecca EvansLabour

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

…across the whole of mainland Europe, apart from those areas where we have specific offices, such as Ireland and Germany. So, the close working does take place in all of those offices.

Tagged for: “Ireland”Official Record

Andrew RT DaviesConservative

29 January 2026, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Inward investment: Panel 5

…a trade mission/diplomatic mission to China today and, obviously, they're hopeful that they will secure trade deals from that engagement. The Welsh Government have an office in China and we've heard that, obviously, the offices play a role across the world in promoting what the Welsh Government's…

Tagged for: “trade deals”Official Record

Carolyn ThomasLabour

27 January 2026, Plenary

Debate: The Final Budget 2026-27

…increase farming payments, which is great, but where's that coming from? Many of you voted to leave the EU, which gave specific ring-fenced funding grants to farmers. It was generous and based on Wales's need, and you got that wrong too. Reform, or should I say Reform a Tory, promise the earth, but…

Tagged for: “EU”Official Record

Janet Finch-SaundersConservative

27 January 2026, Plenary

Debate: The Final Budget 2026-27

Ten million pounds on non-devolved international relations, Ugandan tree planting, which really does incense the majority of people—. This budget set out by the Welsh Labour Government, and again supported by Plaid Cymru, is a classic smoke-and-mirrors exercise: departmental uplifts that barely keep…

Tagged for: “international relations”Official Record