To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what trade agreements between the UK and China (a) have been concluded in the last 12 months and (b) are expected to be concluded in the next 12 months. (264371)

The European Commission conducts negotiations on trade agreements, under Article 133 of the EC treaty, in consultation with EU member states and on the basis of mandates agreed by the Council of Ministers which also decides whether to adopt such agreements. The EU has not signed any trade agreements with China in the last year and has not proposed any plans to do so in the next year, although negotiations for a partnership and cooperation agreement, which includes trade and investment aspects, are ongoing.