Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the possibility of the UK rejoining the European Free Trade Association.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Prime Minister has been clear that we are not going to provide a running commentary on our approach to negotiations. We recognise the need for a smooth transition as the UK leaves the EU which minimises disruption to our trading relationships. The Government is discussing our future trade relationship with a range of countries, including those in the European Free Trade Association.
Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government plans to meet with the (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand and (c) Canadian governments to discuss the potential effect on trade with those countries of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Liam Fox
Until we have left the EU, the UK will remain a member of the EU with all of the rights and obligations that membership entails. In due course, Britain will be leaving the EU. This offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate, in time, our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade. We recognise the need for a smooth transition which minimises disruption to our trading relationships. It would be wrong to set out unilateral positions at this stage. Already though we have seen expressions of interest in future trade deals with the United Kingdom, such as from the Prime Minister of Australia.