Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Southern African Development Community and the EU signed on 10 June.

We will make a decision on the ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union at a later date, in accordance with the best interests of the UK. We remain full members of the EU for now, and while the UK is still a member of the EU all existing rights and obligations will continue to apply. The Agreement will provisionally apply to the UK once it has been ratified by the European Parliament and SADC member states, irrespective of any UK ratification.