Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of the document EU Exit Analysis: Cross-Whitehall Briefing, what assessment they have made of the impact on GDP of new free trade agreements with non-EU countries after Brexit in each year between 2019 and 2033.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis, in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This work is ongoing, and Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that could reveal our negotiating position.

The analysis recently published by the Commons Exiting the EU Committee, does not represent Government policy. It is an information gathering exercise, there to test ideas.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has provided a qualitative summary of existing literature, on the impacts of signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), in the Impact Assessment accompanying the Trade Bill, available here: https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA17-010.pdf

DIT currently provides impact assessments to Parliament, when EU trade agreements are ratified. The Implementation Period, as agreed at the March European Council, will help to minimise unnecessary disruption for both the UK and EU and provide certainty for businesses and individuals as we move towards our future deep and special partnership with the EU. During the Implementation Period the United Kingdom will be able to negotiate, sign, and ratify new FTAs, which will come into force after the implementation period. As outlined in the White Paper “Preparing for our future trade policy”, we are committed to a transparent approach to international trade, and will ensure Parliament has an appropriate role to play in the scrutiny of new UK trade treaties.