Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the UK-US Trade Working Group on access for UK steel producers to US Government procurement contracts in a future trade agreement.

The UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group has met on five occasions since it was launched in July 2017, most recently in November 2018. The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity across a wide range of sectors, including steel, for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations on an free trade agreement after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.