Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on exporters to the UK based in developing countries.

Our first priority is to deliver continuity in our trading arrangements with developing countries on leaving the EU to minimise trade disruption.

The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. This will provide the same level of access as the current EU trade preference scheme by granting duty-free, quota-free access to around 48 Least Developed Countries and tariff reductions to other developing countries.

It remains our priority to replicate the effects of seven EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The UK has signed EPAs with Eastern and Southern Africa states, Pacific states and CARIFORUM states. This will provide continuity for businesses, exporters and consumers as the UK prepares to leave the EU. We are continuing to work with other partner countries to have agreements in place ready for when we need them, whether that is in the event of no deal, or after an implementation period.