Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress her Department has made in securing free trade agreements.
We have made great progress in securing trade deals around the world; to date, we have agreed deals with 70 countries, plus the EU, covering trade worth £766 billion last year.
This year, we signed a new deal with the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and we have reached Agreement-in-Principle with both Australia and New Zealand.
We have begun the accession process for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); are preparing for negotiations with India, Canada and Mexico; and have also launched a public consultation on a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council. We are due to begin work next year on an enhanced and improved FTA with Israel too.