Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Duncan and Faisal Rashid

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Faisal Rashid (Warrington South) (Lab)]

5. What recent assessment he has made of the future of bilateral relationships with the EU.

[The Minister for Europe and the Americas (Sir Alan Duncan)]

As we create our new partnership with the EU, we must also build even stronger bilateral relationships with the 27 member states, and at the same time maintain strong and positive relations with the EU institutions. Considerable effort has been made to ensure that the Foreign Office, and the country, is well placed to do just that.

[Faisal Rashid]

Last month the Foreign Secretary warned that the UK would become “a vassal state” if we could not diverge from EU tariffs and standards, but he also accepted that divergence would have “trading consequences” for the UK. Could he spell out what those consequences would be?

[Sir Alan Duncan]

As we move on to phase 2 of the discussions and negotiations, all these matters will be in the frame. I am sure that we will be able to negotiate an agreement that is in the long-term interests of the UK.