Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to adapt the process under section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 for when third-party states accede to plurilateral trade agreements after UK implementing legislation has been passed.

The Government currently has no plans to make changes to the process under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRAG). Where a third-party state’s accession to a plurilateral trade agreement would require the UK to ratify a treaty in accordance with terms of CRAG, that process will apply.

It is Government policy that ratification of an agreement should only take place once necessary domestic legislation is in place.

As the Government pursues its ambitious trade agenda, we will continue to ensure arrangements remain fit for purpose.