Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department made of the EU-ACP European Partnership Agreements before completing continuity trade agreements with countries that took part in the EU-ACP European Partnership Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

HM Government is seeking to secure continuity with our African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners, as part of our work to provide as much certainty as possible to businesses and consumers. As such, any new bilateral agreements with ACP partners will replicate, as far as possible, the effects of the current EU trade agreements.

Economic Partnership Agreements have been shown to have a positive effect on two-way trade flows, development and production for both Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs. These range from creating new business, trade and investment opportunities, to good new jobs, with protections for farmers and producers.