Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the Withdrawal Agreement will allow the UK to negotiate trade deals with third countries.

As set out in Article 129 of the Withdrawal Agreement, during the Implementation Period the UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify our own free trade agreements with new partners, and bring them into force after the implementation period.

Furthermore, the text of the Political Declaration is clear that whatever is agreed in the future partnership must recognise the development of an independent UK trade policy beyond this economic partnership.