Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many countries have informed his Department that they would like to have trade deals with the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK has met with a wide range of countries to discuss various aspects of our trading relationship. Whilst we are still members of the EU, the UK cannot negotiate and conclude free trade agreements.

The Department for International Trade is currently engaging with all countries with which the EU has trade agreements, to discuss continuity of current trading arrangements as the UK leaves the EU. The Department has also announced a number of working groups with whom there is no EU deal in place, including the US, China, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.