Official Statistics

Market access barrier quarterly statistics: technical annex

Updated 12 September 2024

Introduction

This annex outlines the methodology, revision policy and data quality information relevant to the Market access barrier quarterly statistics. This statistic is designated as official statistics under the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. Its aim is to support users to understand the strengths and limitations of these statistics and reduce the risk of misusing data. This statistical annex therefore includes details about Department for Business and Trade (DBT) compliance with the quality principles as stated in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

For terms and definitions please see the glossary at the end of this annex.

Methodology

This section covers DBT’s definition of market access barriers, methods of data collection and the process of recording market access barriers.

DBT defines barriers as the presence or absence of any legal, regulatory or administrative practice by another government or regulator that can impede a business exporting or investing overseas.

DBT is alerted to the presence of potential market access barriers in a number of ways, including:

• through other government departments (OGDs)
• UK officials working in overseas diplomatic missions as part of the overseas network
• UK businesses using the report a trade barrier service

The Digital Market Access System (DMAS) is an operational system where market access barriers are recorded by His Majesty’s Government (HMG) officials who work on the UK’s market access program. They are mainly DBT’s officials based in overseas diplomatic missions in the His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) regions and the International Strategy and Trade Relations (ISTR) officials in DBT headquarters in London. OGDs and devolved and administration officials coordinate with relevant DBT ISTR regional teams who may update any information related to a barrier, as and when they receive it. DMAS is a live database where information is updated by officials on a continual basis. This could result in changes to barrier information after the data has been downloaded.

Reported barrier statistics are generated based on the date a barrier was reported on DMAS. It includes all barriers that have been recorded onto DMAS with one of the following statuses: ‘open’, ‘dormant’, ‘resolved in part’ or ‘resolved in full’. Resolved barrier statistics are generated based on the date reported on DMAS, this is when the resolution was reported to have occurred. Barriers on DMAS can be marked as resolved in full when the issue has been fully addressed, or resolved in part when only a part of the issues related to a barrier is resolved.

Revision policy

DBT complies with The United Kingdom Statistics Authority (UKSA) Code of Practice for Official Statistics . This has set out the revision policy for this release and will notify users when revisions are made to statistics.

The revision policy is used to inform reasons why particular data, output, or publications need to be revised. These revisions are in line with the T3.9 of the Code of Practice. The revisions can take the form of scheduled and unscheduled revisions.

Scheduled revisions

Scheduled revisions are planned amendments of published statistics when revised and updated data becomes available. Scheduled revisions will be applicable for all future releases.

Revisions due to changes in resolved barriers

A barrier status can be updated to either resolved in full or resolved in part. If barrier status has been changed to ‘resolved in part’ in one quarter, the status of this barrier could change to ‘open’ or ‘resolved in full’ in the next quarter. This means that the statistics from the previous quarterly publications will be revised in the next iteration of the release to reflect this change in the barrier status. The comparison of resolved barriers from previous releases is not appropriate as it may cause double counting.

Unscheduled revisions

Unscheduled revisions are unplanned, and they can occur due to published statistics released with errors, due to unforeseen changes in methodology, or due to an effect of changes in administrative or management systems.

Revision due to published statistics released with errors

Occasionally an error can occur in statistical processes. There is a thorough quality assurance process in place to prevent any error, and these are constantly reviewed, to minimise this risk. If a significant error is found, a revised edition of statistic will be published in agreement with DBT’s Chief Statistician. If a minor error is found, the error will be revised in the following annual release, with a published revision note to show the change.

Revision due to changes in methodology

Where there have been revisions to data accountable to changes in methodology or administrative systems, DBT will ensure that these are clearly stated in the next release.

Data quality

This section covers the quality of the market access data and their reliability. In order to determine whether outputs meet their needs, quality is measured in terms of the quality dimensions of the European Statistical System.

Accuracy and reliability

Statistics on market access barriers are produced using recorded details of reported and resolved barriers on DBT’s DMAS operational system. This system is used to ensure all relevant details relating to an identified barrier are recorded consistently and accessible to those involved in addressing them across government.

DMAS is a live database which is updated by HMG officials on a continual basis. DMAS entries are verified as part of the production of the official statistics. There is a thorough quality assurance process in place to ensure accuracy is maintained when data is downloaded from DMAS. These processes are constantly reviewed to maintain the quality of statistical processes and outputs.

Timeliness and punctuality

All quarterly releases are planned to be updated with the latest market access barrier statistics covering each quarterly period starting from Quarter 1 (April to June), Quarter 2 (July to September), Quarter 3 (October to December), and Quarter 4 (January to March). The data is downloaded from DMAS with one month lag. This process enables more accurate information to be available before data is downloaded on the last working day of the following month of the reporting period.

The dates of the future scheduled quarterly Market access barrier statistics releases will be pre-announced in advance via the government statistics release calendar. DBT will also notify users if there are any changes to the pre-announced release schedule and provide the reasons for the change.

Accessibility and clarity

In line with the government accessibility requirements, the market access barrier statistics are provided in the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) which follows the AA accessibility standards for GOV.UK publications. DBT continues to review the accessibility of this release prior to each publication, ensuring it adheres to the government accessibility requirements. This release is also reviewed by the DBT Digital Team.

If you have any feedback on the accessibility of this release, please contact AG-MarketAccessTeam@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Comparability and coherence

Statistics derived from DMAS can provide a partial picture of market access activity and issues. They do not provide a comprehensive view on underlying market access conditions faced by UK businesses in exporting around the world.

The regional breakdowns presented in the quarterly release are used as an indication of market access activity in a particular HMTC region. However, this should not be understood as a complete indicator of the market access conditions within each HMTC region, or how they have changed. Instead, it represents the market access barriers that have been reported to DBT.

The number of barriers reported and resolved and changes across reporting period (quarterly or annual) is not indicative of the scope of value of market access activity, and is attributable to operational factors, such as increased focus on resolving rather than reporting market access barriers or vice versa.

Cost, burden, and confidentiality

The data used in the market access barrier statistics releases are all derived from DBT’s internal DMAS operational system which are recorded by operational staff, and there are therefore no extra resources required to collect data. Due to the automated processes of producing this statistic in the HTML, there is a vastly reduced cost and burden associated with producing the publication compared to if it was done manually. No extra cost is required to publish this statistic release.

There are no known confidentiality issues with the data contained in the market access barrier statistics publication as DBT does not publish disclosive information on any barrier. In line with GSS guidance on confidentiality, DBT will ensure that the information published does not reveal the identity of an individual or organisation, taking account of information available from other sources.

Disclosure and suppression

The sections providing number of resolved barriers at HMTC region level, do not have any suppressed figure. There is very minimal risk of individual businesses in HMTC regions being identified from these statistics alone. This has been considered and deemed proportionate to publish these small numbers without the need for suppression. In the annual publication, we provide a sectoral breakdown, which is not included in the quarterly series, and suppression is applied to that data where there are five or fewer market access barriers being reported or resolved.  This is to protect the identity of foreign investors and companies, as well as UK companies.

These rules have been put in place to minimise risk of disclosure, and the financial, reputational, and operational damage that could occur should exposure happen.

Glossary

Diplomatic missions

Diplomatic missions overseas are where DBT’s staff are based in high commissions or deputy high commissions in Commonwealth countries, and embassies in other countries. Department for Business and Trade (DBT) offices around the world.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners (HMTCs)

DBT’s overseas network is made up of 9 separate geographic regions, each headed by His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTCs).

His Majesty’s Government (HMG) officials

HMG refers to officials belonging to a HMTC region, the Department for Business and Trade, other government departments and devolved administrations.

Trading partner

The trading partners are the individual countries with whom UK is involved in trading and investment activities overseas.

Trading blocks

Businesses can trade under agreements with the individual countries and trade blocs. Find the list of trade agreements between trading blocs, in the UK trade agreements in effect.

Excluded barriers

These are barriers which are not deleted from DMAS, they remain on DMAS as ‘archived’.

Open barriers

Unresolved barriers that are actively being scoped or where efforts are being made to deliver a resolution.

Dormant barriers

Unresolved barriers that have been scoped, and are not being currently pursued, primarily due to operational reasons. However, they may be re-opened in future and pursued for resolution.