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Overseas Trade

Question for Department for International Trade

UIN HL13179, tabled on 28 January 2019

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to switch to trading on World Trade Organisation terms in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if so, whether they anticipate that such arrangements would allow for frictionless, tariff-free trade.

Answered on

6 February 2019

The UK has lodged its independent schedules at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), on which it would be able to trade in the event of a no deal.

As a responsible government, we will continue to plan for all scenarios including the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement. By necessity, this means trading on WTO terms, including paying the tariffs levied by WTO members on imports to their markets where there is no preferential agreement.

The UK will be able to decide its own tariff policy when we leave the EU. The Government is looking at a spectrum of options and is carefully considering the evidence available before making a final decision in the interests of industry and consumers.