Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps he has taken to prepare companies that trade with countries under EU free trade agreements (FTA) where the provisions of those FTAs have not been replicated.

Our priority is securing a deal with the European Union as this will avoid disruption to our global trading relationships. However, we must prepare for all eventualities.

The Government has published advice to businesses on trade continuity in a no deal, including a highly cautious list of those agreements that will not be in place, in order that businesses and individuals ensure that they are prepared for every eventuality.

Should replacement agreements not be ready in time for 29 March 2019, the Government is considering a range of options to ensure that its continuity agreements can be brought into force as soon as possible.