(Commonwealth_Europe) Chris Bryant’s first overseas trip as Britain’s new Trade Minister has taken him to Brazil and Argentina, where he is trying to clear away the hurdles that make it tough for British businesses to export. On paper, the visit is about agreements and negotiations. On the ground, it’s about making life easier for companies that just want to sell their products abroad without being buried in forms or slowed down by customs checks.
For years, British firms eyeing South America’s biggest economies have faced a maze of rules, delays at ports, and expensive tariffs. Bryant’s meetings in São Paulo and Buenos Aires aim to fix some of those problems. Bryant is advocating for agreements that streamline bureaucratic processes, simplify digital trade, and enable seamless cross-border movement of goods. These agreements might sound technical, but for a small UK manufacturer trying to ship medical equipment to Brazil, or a whisky distiller in Scotland hoping to reach more Argentine buyers, they mean fewer headaches and more opportunities.
Trade with Brazil has already reached record levels, but both sides see far greater potential, especially in clean energy, healthcare, finance, and digital services. In São Paulo, Bryant is sitting down with UK businesses to understand what stands in their way, and also meeting Brazilian investors to encourage them to put money into the UK’s growing industries. In Argentina, the focus is on building new bridges after years of limited engagement.
One moment of celebration will be a whisky reception, marking Argentina’s recognition of Scotch whisky as a protected product, the first time the country has granted such status to a foreign product. For Scottish distillers, coupled with Argentina’s move to cut whisky tariffs from 35% to 20%, this recognition could open up a much larger market. “It’s not just about selling more bottles,” as one industry voice put it, “it’s about securing jobs back home.”
The trip also coincides with Argentina rolling out its Open Finance model, inspired by the UK’s Open Banking system. Bryant will speak alongside Argentina’s National Securities Commission to highlight how reforms like these can help both consumers and businesses, creating more competition and choice in financial services.
For Bryant, the journey is about showing that trade deals are not distant, slow-moving processes but practical steps that affect daily lives. Faster customs checks mean truck drivers in Brazil spend less time idling at ports. Lower tariffs mean Argentine families can afford more imported goods. And for British companies, it means more customers and smoother routes into two of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
“It’s about unblocking real difficulties for businesses,” Bryant explained. “That way, we can turn opportunities abroad into growth and jobs at home.”
