Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether it is the Government's position that the UK can sign new trade deals before the UK has formally exited the EU.

The UK will remain a member of the EU until we formally exit, with all of the rights and obligations that membership entails. This means that the EU currently retains competence for most aspects of trade policy. We are, however, engaging with a broad range of international partners to best promote British trade, and to ensure that Britain becomes the global leader in free trade once we leave the EU.