Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to build on existing trade relationships with Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Department for International Trade works extensively throughout Latin America and the Caribbean (LatAC) to strengthen the UK’s trade and investment relationships. Last year Joanna Crellin was appointed as LatAC Trade Commissioner, and in March hosted a LatAC Roadshow in several UK regions to promote trade opportunities to UK companies. The Prime Minister has also appointed four Trade Envoys to promote bilateral trade and investment in LatAC.

The UK has concluded trade continuity agreements with Chile and 11 Caribbean countries, which will allow us to continue trading on preferential terms when we leave the EU, and we are in advanced stages of negotiation with the Andean Community and Central America Association. We also utilise other bilateral trade policy tools such as the Brazil Joint Economic and Trade Committee.