Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions the Government has had with the EU on conditions under which the UK can begin negotiating trade agreements with countries with whom the EU has trade agreements; and if he will make a statement.

As an EU Member State, discussions we have about trade with our partner countries are limited by our obligations under the Common Commercial Policy and our duty of sincere co-operation. Discussions have been focussed on securing continuity, not on a renegotiation of terms. The European Commission is aware of these discussions and has not raised any objections.