Creative industries won’t be damaged by a US trade deal, Lisa Nandy suggests

Lisa Nandy has sought to reassure MPs that the creative industries will not be impacted negatively by a potential trade deal with the US, as tariff negotiations with Donald Trump loom.

Speaking in the House of Common on Thursday morning, the culture secretary was questioned by Conservative former minister Sir John Whittingdale on reports that the government may offer concessions around AI regulation in a deal to reduce US tariffs.

Whittingdale asked: “Can she assure the creative and the news media sectors that any negotiations will not include an offer to weaken our copyright framework, which would be opposed by creative industries both in the UK and in the US?”

Nandy responded: “Our creatives are second to none in the world.

“Our copyright framework is an essential part of their success. We’ve been clear, if it doesn’t work for creatives, then it doesn’t work for us, and we won’t do it.

“The prime minister has been clear in terms of negotiations with the United States that this is the start of the process, but we will always work in the national interest and we’re considering all steps as we look to the future.”

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