Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 6 March 2019.
Clearly, Minister, there are businesses in Wales that are already trading with the wider world, even in the absence of distinctive trade deals with many of those nations. What work are you going to do to harness the opportunities that that presents, where people have already got a foothold, if you like, into trading with some of these very significant economies around the world where there aren't already trade deals in place? I'm thinking particularly of Australasia, other parts of the North American market. I heard what you said about North America not being a priority for the Welsh Government in the future. I think that that is a great disappointment actually, because I think there are huge opportunities for Welsh businesses in North America. Of course, we have got to make sure that any future trade deal is in good shape and is in the right shape to benefit Wales, but clearly there are opportunities because of existing business relationships. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the CBI, with the FSB, with the Institute of Directors, to make sure that we're harnessing the existing relationships that are already there, not just in terms of the diaspora, but in terms of those existing discussions that are already taking place and trading relationships that are already available to us?