Trade Agreements

(asked on 9th January 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for International Trade on 9 January 2018, if he will publish a definition of what constitutes a significant change to existing trade agreements; and if he will list those countries that have indicated an interest in changing existing such agreements.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 17th January 2018

Our priority is to secure continuity of the existing trade arrangements as we leave the EU, to provide certainty and stability for businesses, consumers and investors.

All the countries which currently have an agreement with the EU are aware that this is a purely technical exercise aimed at replicating as far as possible the effects of current trade agreements to ensure continuity.

After leaving the EU, the UK will be able to implement an independent trade policy. This would make it possible to revisit and improve existing agreements where appropriate.

Reticulating Splines