Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Northern Ireland is treated in the same way as the rest of the UK under the terms of the UK–Australia free trade agreement as a result of the effects of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and if not, what the difference will be.

We have provided for the application of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to all four parts of the UK, which includes Northern Ireland. The FTA also takes into account the effects of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland by allowing the UK to take measures under the Protocol designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and to protect the peace process.

Exporters in Northern Ireland will benefit from this FTA in the same way as exporters in England, Scotland and Wales.