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Welcoming the European Commission鈥檚 trade strategy published today, the Prime Minister said:

One of the biggest benefits of our EU membership is the free trade deals between the EU and the rest of the world, which tear down barriers to business and open up markets. That鈥檚 why 60% of the UK鈥檚 exports go to the single market and the countries with which the EU has trade deals.

皇冠体育appse agreements open up huge opportunities for British businesses: for example, our exports to South Korea have doubled since that trade deal was done. And we achieve much more in these trade agreements with third countries by negotiating as part of a market of 500 million consumers than we would if the UK went it alone.

We already benefit from more than 50 trade agreements between the EU and third countries and today鈥檚 strategy from the European Commission shows the huge prize still on offer 鈥� if the EU completed all the agreements on the table, it could add 拢20 billion each year to the UK economy.

That鈥檚 one of the benefits I鈥檝e been pushing for as part of the UK renegotiation and so I鈥檓 delighted that the European Commission has committed today to push ahead with ambitious agreements with China, Australia, New Zealand and countries in south-east Asia and to do more to ensure that SMEs and consumers across Europe can benefit from these trade agreements.

This is firmly in Britain鈥檚 interests and it鈥檚 proof of how we can persuade the European Commission to focus on actions that will create growth and jobs here at home.