There has been a substantial fall in UK-Zimbabwe trade in recent years. In 2000, UK and Zimbabwe two-way trade amounted to £143 million. Imports from Zimbabwe were mainly agricultural products with tobacco, making up approximately 31 per cent. of the total imports. Exports were mainly manufactured goods, with office machines and ADP equipment topping the table at £5.3 million.
By 2005, two-way trade had fallen to £66 million. The principal change was in tobacco imports, which fell to £4.8 million from £31 million in 2000 down 85 per cent. Exports also fell, with the leading export, road vehicles, topping the table at £3.5 million. The decline in trade can be attributed to the policies of the Government of Zimbabwe which have brought about the fall of both imports and exports.
A breakdown of UK exports and imports by sector for 2004 and 2005 is shown in the following table.
HMG have not imposed any economic sanctions or restrictions on doing business in Zimbabwe and two-way trade continues, although as the aforementioned figures show, at a substantially reduced level. It is our view that economic sanctions would harm the people of Zimbabwe at a time of humanitarian crisis, while having very little impact on the ZANU (PF) leadership. The people of Zimbabwe have suffered enough.
Division and description £000 Top 10 UK exports 2004 75 Office machines and ADP equipment 4,878 78 Road vehicles 4,563 76 Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus 2,648 72 Specialised industrial machinery 1,807 74 General industrial machinery and equipment, nes and machine parts nes 1,590 77 Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, nes and electrical parts thereof 1,111 71 Power generating machinery and equipment 899 87 Professional, scientific and control instruments (and apparatus nes) 557 67 Iron and steel 505 26 Textile fibres 498 Total of top 10 19,056 Total trade 26,005 2005 78 Road vehicles 3,473 75 Office machines and ADP equipment 3,379 72 Specialised industrial machinery 2,370 76 Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus 1,545 74 General industrial machinery and equipment, nes and machine parts nes 1,528 71 Power generating machinery and equipment 1,238 00 Live animals other than of Div. 03 740 26 Textile fibres 716 87 Professional, scientific and control instruments (and apparatus nes) 702 77 Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, nes and electrical parts thereof 670 Total of top 10 16,362 Total trade 22,113 Top 10 UK imports 2004 06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey 22,554 05 Vegetables and fruit 8,185 12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures 8,182 82 Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings 1,675 66 Non-metallic mineral manufactures 1,256 07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof 1,212 68 Non-ferrous metals 956 65 Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, nes 935 76 Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus 464 29 Crude animal and vegetable materials 317 Total of top 10 45,736 Total trade 47,779 2005 66 Non-metallic mineral manufactures 14,970 06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey 13,087 05 Vegetables and fruit 7,182 12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures 4,768 82 Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings 912 07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof 495 65 Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, nes 374 67 Iron and steel 217 84 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 144 79 Other transport equipment 117 Total of top 10 42,266 Total trade 43,564 Source: DTI Analysis of HM Revenue and Customs data.