Free trade area for goods

Trade Bill – in the House of Commons at 6:00 pm on 17 July 2018.

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Votes in this debate

  • Division number 223
    A majority of MPs voted against making it a UK negotiating objective to establish a free trade area for goods between the UK and the EU and, if that cannot be agreed by the 21st of January 2019, against making reaching an agreement to enable the UK’s participation in a customs union with the EU a negotiating objective.

‘(1) Before exit day it shall be the objective of Her Majesty’s Government to achieve the implementation of an international agreement to enable the United Kingdom to establish a frictionless free trade area for goods between the UK and the EU.

(2) If an international agreement of the type set out in subsection (1) has not been agreed by 21st January 2019 then it shall be the objective of Her Majesty’s Government to achieve the implementation of an international agreement which enables the United Kingdom to participate after exit day in a customs union with the EU.

(3) “Exit day” shall have the meaning set out in section 20 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.”

This new clause would make it a negotiating objective of the UK to establish a free trade area for goods between the UK and the EU and if that cannot be agreed then it should be the objective of the UK to secure an agreement to enable the UK’s participation in a customs union with the EU.

Brought up.

Photo of Stephen Hammond Stephen Hammond Conservative, Wimbledon

With a heavy heart, I beg to move, That new clause 18 be added to the Bill.

Question put.

The House divided:

Ayes 301, Noes 307.

Division number 223 Trade Bill — New Clause 18 — UK-EU Free Trade Area or Customs Union

A majority of MPs voted against making it a UK negotiating objective to establish a free trade area for goods between the UK and the EU and, if that cannot be agreed by the 21st of January 2019, against making reaching an agreement to enable the UK’s participation in a customs union with the EU a negotiating objective.

Aye: 301 MPs

No: 307 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 38 MPs

Absent: A-Z by last name

Question accordingly negatived.

Clause 1