Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans his Department has to begin formal negotiations on trade deals with (a) Australia, (b) New Zealand, (c) Canada and (d) the United States of America during the implementation period provided for in the UK-EU withdrawal agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has established working groups and high level dialogues with a range of key trade partners, including Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to seeking continuity for our existing EU trade agreements, including the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), our priority is to be in a position to begin formal negotiations with key partners, including the US, Australia and New Zealand, immediately after we leave the EU and to take these negotiations forward during the Implementation Period,