In under two years, we have agreed trade deals covering 63 countries plus the EU, accounting for £885 billion of UK trade. This is unprecedented; no other country has ever negotiated so many trade deals simultaneously. In 2021, we will add to these deals: negotiations are already under way with the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and our planned accession to the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership will hitch Britain to the fastest-growing markets around the world.

Accession to the CPTPP is a priority for this Government and a key part of our trade negotiation programme. We aim to make our formal notification of our intent to accede soon. This agreement will give huge opportunities for British business to export more goods. We already export more goods to the CPTPP countries than to China.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is running the Brexit business taskforce to ensure that the additional processes required of businesses are clear and to give businesses the support they need to be able to trade in the new environment.

No one in this House has done more than my hon Friend to champion the English language sector under the pressures of covid. I congratulate her on today's question and on the debate that she led in, I think, July, to which I had the honour of replying. We are determined to champion the interests of the English language sector.

The trade deals that we have secured are worth £885 billion of trade. What trade means is jobs. It means opportunities for firms to export abroad. It means strong supply chains for businesses across the United Kingdom. The FTAs that we have secured mean that UK traders will continue to enjoy preferential access to trade that covers 63% of UK trade.

This has attracted some attention. I would remind the hon. Member that he voted for no deal on 30 December. I would also refer him to the article written by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the New Musical Express this week, in which he said that the EU offer on this unfortunately fell short of the UK's proposals and would not have enabled touring by musicians.

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He is a great champion of business in his constituency, and I can tell him that the deals with Canada and Mexico give vital certainty to businesses across the midlands, which export goods and services worth about £15 billion, in key sectors such as automotive, manufacturing and food and drink.

I observe that Japan has data adequacy with the EU and it is also part of a comprehensive digital partnership. Therefore, we should be able to have both and benefit from these arrangements.

My hon. Friend is right to advocate for his constituents and the levelling-up agenda. Freeports will attract new investors, drive trade and exports, regenerate communities with high-skilled jobs and infrastructure. We are determined that the benefits of our free trade agenda should be shared across the country.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. The Government are in constant dialogue with business representatives such as the Federation of Small Businesses and have provided significant funding to help businesses adapt.

Since we left the EU, no bureaucrats will ratify our trade agreements. Future ratifications will occur only after Parliament has scrutinised the detail and any necessary implementing legislation.

Our chemicals industry is very important and we are aware of issues with all trade partners. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster handles EU relations, but the Brexit business taskforce will hear from the industry.

We are working hard to de-escalate this tariff conflict and reach a negotiated settlement. Discussions with the US and EU will continue.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are aware of the important role Milton Keynes plays in innovation, particularly in electric vehicles and other technologies. The UK is seeking to minimise barriers to digital trade, especially through the UK-Japan deal.