The EU consultation is seeking feedback on an initial list of products.

The action is in the context of the Boeing dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The public consultation launched on 17 April. It will close on 31 May 2019.

On 28 March the WTO Appellate Body released its report ruling that the United States has not complied with an obligation to withdraw subsidies it declared illegal in 2012, or to remove their adverse effects.

Read International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox’s response to the ruling.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt visits Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya this week to make the case for new UK partnerships across Africa.

Jeremy Hunt championed a new UK diplomatic push across the continent of Africa, including French-speaking countries where the UK has traditionally played a smaller role. This page provides an overview of the visit with links to the main announcements.

Kenya

On Friday 3 May the Foreign Secretary listened to Kenyan entrepreneurs pitching for new business ideas as part of a UK aid funded programme. Winners can access up to £100,000 each in grant funding and technical assistance to help them scale up.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed £64 million of UK funding for Kenyan businesses that includes:

• £52 million for a solar power plant
• £11 million by British business De La Rue
• £1.4 million support for creative industries

Friday was also World Press Freedom Day 2019, and the Foreign Secretary visited the BBC Africa team and their new bureau in Nairobi.

Ethiopia

The Foreign Secretary visited Ethiopia on Thursday 2 May, where he spoke at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Addis Ababa.

The Foreign Secretary announced £15.5 million in UK aid to help Ethiopia run transparent, free and fair elections. He also announced a new Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship programme, for 60 African journalists to gain experience with leading UK media organisations.

Nigeria

The Foreign Secretary arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday 30 April for the inaugural meeting of the UK/Nigeria Economic Development Forum.

Fighting extremism

On Wednesday 1 May the Foreign Secretary visited the World Food Programme warehouse in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria. He spoke to people providing life-saving support to millions who have fled their homes following terrorist attacks.

He also met with the UK Military Liaison and Support Team which is working with the Nigerian military. The UK remains committed to supporting the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa.

Climate change

Climate change could have a catastrophic impact on hundreds of millions of people across Nigeria, the Sahel, and more widely across Africa, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest. Jeremy Hunt announced nearly £153 million funding for new UK aid programmes to help farmers across Africa and South Asia adapt to the effects of climate change and boost climate resilience in Ethiopia.

Ghana

The Foreign Secretary visited Ghana on Tuesday 30 April, where he welcomed new business deals with British companies. In one such deal, the Ghanaian government has approved a £26 million agreement with British business Aqua Africa to reduce water poverty in the country.

Senegal

On Monday 29 April the Foreign Secretary saw how the Royal Navy is training Senegal’s naval special forces to help protect the country’s new offshore oil and gas installations.

The UK will fund a new £4 million English language programme in French and Portuguese speaking countries across Africa, and Jeremy Hunt launched the ‘English Connects’ programme at the Université Virtuelle du Sénégal in Dakar. Over the next 2 years, it will support the teaching and learning of English in sub-Saharan Africa countries where English is not widely spoken.

Anuradha Singh has been appointed to the Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP).

This appointment takes effect from 1 May 2019 and lasts for 3 years.

The CFP advises on the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty and encourages greater co-ordination across the organisations working to reduce fuel poverty.

Anu is a board level local government and health professional. She has been a statutory Director of Social Services, and is passionate about service improvement and community empowerment. She has led on new relationships with communities for County Councils, City Councils and a London Metropolitan Borough Council.

Anu was Director of Patient & Public Participation and Insight for NHS England. She took the lead for the NHS in ensuring that the voice of patients, service users, carers and the public is at the heart of the way NHS works. She was also responsible for Equalities and Health Inequalities, Person Centred Care, and the national relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector. Anu is Vice Chair of the Whittington Health Integrated Care Trust in north London.