To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the position paper, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the EU, published on 21 August 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of potential trade frictions in the event that the Government fails to reach an agreement during negotiations with the EU on continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.
Answered on
16 October 2017
The Government is working towards a mutually beneficial outcome to the withdrawal negotiations. Nevertheless, a responsible government plans for contingency scenarios. The Department is actively considering all options in order to minimise disruption for UK businesses and avoid the introduction of new regulatory barriers. We continue to engage with UK stakeholders to understand their concerns and interests.