Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2021 to Question 148746 on Trade Agreements: Cameroon, when she expects to sign the UK's economic partnership agreement with Cameroon.

Where the UK or its treaty partners are unable to fully ratify or provisionally apply an agreement, the UK has sought to give effect to the preferences in arrangements reached with partners through alternative bridging mechanisms. These non-binding and temporary mechanisms include Memoranda of Understanding or the Exchange of Diplomatic Notes, which ensure continuity of trade and prevent disruption.

The UK considers arrangements under bridging mechanisms to be compliant with WTO rules under Article XXIV of GATT and Article V of GATS. Accordingly, we have notified to the WTO these trading arrangements.

We are working to ensure that the Economic Partnership Agreement with Cameroon is signed and ratified as quickly as practicable. We have established a bridging mechanism with Cameroon to ensure continuity in trade preferences between our countries, avoiding any disruption that otherwise would have occurred.

The text of the agreement will be laid in Parliament under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaG) and the corresponding Memorandum of Understanding published on GOV.UK once the formal process of signing the Agreement is complete.