Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans his Department has to pursue (a) reform of the World Trade Organisation and (b) free trade.

The UK is a strong supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system and reducing the barriers to trade and investment in support of business and consumers.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the bedrock of rules-based free trade and the UK welcomed the commitment made at the recent G20 Summit to support the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functioning. DIT will continue to champion discussions on WTO reform through the EU, at international fora and in our bilateral engagements, in particular the importance of updating rules on digital trade and ensuring that the WTO dispute settlement system is not undermined.

The Government intends to pursue free trade including through an ambitious programme of trade negotiations and enhanced market access. While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU free trade agreements as we leave the European Union. These give us the platform to build and strengthen already-successful trading relationships.