Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the current EU free trade agreements they have agreed to replicate with the countries concerned so that the UK will be able to continue to trade with those countries on existing terms after the UK leaves the EU.

Discussions with all partner countries have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU agreed to notify its treaty partners that the UK is treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the Implementation Period (IP). This includes trade agreements.

The Government continues to prepare for all eventualities, including a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario, in the event of which we will seek to bring into force bilateral agreements from exit day (29 March 2019) or as soon as possible thereafter. We are making good progress and have signed agreements with Chile, the Faroe Islands, and Eastern and Southern African Economic Partnership Agreement states, with others soon to follow, such as Switzerland, which the Government expects to sign shortly. We have also signed Mutual Recognition Agreements with Australia and New Zealand. When we reach agreement with other countries will depend on the progress of ongoing discussions, taking into account: their assessment of the possibility of a no deal; their own political or parliamentary situation; resource constraints; and other factors. The Government will continue to inform Parliament and the public when agreements are signed.