Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to sign a trade agreement with the US before the Trade and Agriculture Commission has submitted its full report to the Government.

The Trade and Agriculture Commission will act as an advisory board to my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade. It has a fixed term of 6 months. At the end of the term the Commission will submit an advisory report which will be presented to Parliament by my Department.

The Commission will produce a report which:

• Considers the policies that Government should adopt in free trade agreements to secure opportunities for UK farmers, ensure the sector remains competitive and to make sure that animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined

• Reflects consumer interests and those of developing countries.

• Considers how the UK engages the WTO to build a coalition that helps advance higher animal welfare standards across the world.

• Develops trade policy that identifies and opens up new export opportunities for the UK agricultural industry – in particular for small and medium sized businesses – and that benefits the UK economy as a whole.

The Trade and Agriculture Bills are already making their passage through Parliament. These, and our trade negotiations, are different processes on different timescales and the Bills have a different aim and scope to the Trade and Agriculture Commission.