Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when her Department last held negotiations with the Government of North Macedonia on a potential trade agreement that would take effect when existing EU trade agreements no longer apply to the UK; and at what level those negotiations were held.

HM Government has ambitious goals for British trade; our aim is to have 80% of United Kingdom trade with countries covered by free trade agreements within the next three years, starting with the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Work to transition EU trade agreements contributes to this ambition.

To date, the United Kingdom has signed, or agreed in principle, 21 trade agreements, with 49 countries. This includes the United Kingdom–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which was agreed in principle on 11^th September 2020. Our total trade with these countries was worth £142 billion in 2019.

We are continuing our work to replicate existing EU trade agreements with trading partners, to secure continuity for British businesses at the end of the transition period. Negotiations continue on the remaining trade continuity agreements in a way that reflects the reality of the current situation.

An up-to-date list of trade continuity agreements, signed and in discussion, is available on GOV.UK at: gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries