Trade information
Other measures in the Trade Act allow HMRC to collect data on behalf of the Government to confirm the number of exporters of goods and services in the UK and allow the Government to identify those exporters for trade promotion purposes.
	The Trade Act also permits HMRC to share data with other bodies so that they can fulfil their public functions related to trade. This power provides access to information which the Government and the TRA need to carry out functions that were previously carried out by the European Commission. That information will inform the Government in designing and monitoring trade policy, including conducting trade disputes, and assist the TRA in investigating trade remedy cases. It also enables HMRC to share data with international organisations that oversee the world trade system (for example the WTO).
	These data sharing powers are subject to strict safeguards under the Act, the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 and the Data Protection Act 2018, ensuring appropriate protection and use of the data.
	Equivalent data sharing powers were enacted through sections 1 to 3 of the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act 2020 (DOI Act), which received Royal Assent in December 2020 to facilitate data sharing prior to the end of the Transition Period. Section 4(1) of the DOI Act contains provision for the expiry of sections 1 to 3 of that Act. The expiry of these sections is subject to the Secretary of State being of the opinion that an Act resulting from the Trade Act is passed which contains provisions that have the same effect as, or similar effect to, sections 1 to 3 of the DOI Act.
	If the Secretary of State is of this opinion, the Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory instrument, provide for sections 1 to 3 of that Act to expire at the time that the ‘corresponding provisions’ come into force to any extent.