Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the UK is able to make trade agreements after the UK leaves the EU.

Delivering the deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority. The political declaration recognises the development of an independent UK trade policy beyond the economic partnership with the EU. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK will be free to negotiate, sign and ratify new trade agreements during the time-limited implementation period, and to bring them into force from January 2021.

We have consulted on our first four free trade agreements (FTAs), with the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We plan to publish the Government’s response to these consultations before entering into any formal negotiations.

In addition, we are building stronger relationships with large economies – such as China, India, and Brazil – through a series of Joint Trade Reviews (JTRs).

While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU trade agreements as we leave the European Union. We have made good progress, signing trade continuity agreements with Switzerland, Chile, the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) states, the Faroe Islands, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority.