Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the Australian Government on preparations for opening trade talks.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade established the UK-Australia Trade Policy Working Group with the Australian Trade Minister last September, and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy (Lord Price) chaired the first meeting of this group in November. This is an important step on the road to securing an independent UK trade policy once we leave the EU.

The Australia working group will continue to scope the potential for an ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement once the UK has left the European Union.