Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when he last met his counterpart in the US Administration; and what matters were discussed.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade visited Washington on 19-20 June and met with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Their discussions covered a range of key UK interests including steel.

During the visit they agreed to convene a first meeting of the UK-US Trade Working Group in late July. Early discussions in the Working Group will focus on providing commercial continuity for US and UK businesses as the UK leaves the EU and on exploring possible ways to strengthen trade and commercial ties immediately, consistent with the EU’s common commercial policy. The Working Group will also work to lay the groundwork for a future UK-US free trade agreement once the UK has left the EU.