Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what his Department's trade policy will be if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Our priority remains getting approval for the deal we have negotiated with our European partners. Alongside this, the Government will continue to do the responsible thing and prepare for all eventualities with partner countries, including a ‘no deal’ scenario.

Regardless of how we leave, for the first time in more than four decades, the UK will have an independent trade policy once we exit from the EU. We will deploy all the tools at our disposal and tailor our trade policy to the strengths and requirements of the UK economy.

The Government is preparing for an ambitious programme of trade negotiations and enhanced market access. We have consulted on our first four potential free trade agreements (FTAs), with Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU trade agreements as we leave the European Union. We have made good progress, signing agreements with Chile, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) states, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the Pacific states, and CARIFORUM. We are also due to sign an agreement with Iceland-Norway shortly.