Fel y bydd yr aelodau’n ymwybodol, mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi gofyn imi ysgwyddo’r cyfrifoldeb dros gynrychioli buddiannau Cymru mewn perthynas â masnach ryngwladol o ganlyniad i’r newid i gyfrifoldebau Gweinidogion fis diwethaf. Wrth inni nesáu at ddiwedd y Cyfnod Pontio, rydym ar fin colli’r sicrwydd a ddaw o fod yn rhan o floc masnachu mwyaf y byd. Yn ei le, am y tro cyntaf mewn bron 50 mlynedd, mae’r DU yn cynnal polisi masnach annibynnol ac, fel rhan allweddol o hyn, mae’n ceisio negodi cytundebau masnach rydd gydag UDA, Awstralia a Seland Newydd. Mae pob dadansoddiad credadwy yn awgrymu na fyddai’r cytundebau masnach posibl hyn, gyda’i gilydd, yn gwneud iawn mewn unrhyw ffordd am golli mynediad i farchnad yr UE sydd ar fin digwydd inni. Dylai cytundebau masnach rydd gyda’r gwledydd blaenoriaeth hyn fod yn ychwanegol at gytundeb masnach cynhwysfawr â’r UE, ac nid ei ddisodli.
As members will be aware, the First Minister has asked me to take on responsibility for representing Wales’ interests in relation to international trade as a consequence of the change to Ministerial responsibilities last month. As we near the end of the Transition Period we leave behind the security of being part of the largest trading block in the world. Instead, for the first time in nearly 50 years the UK is conducting an independent trade policy and, as a key part of this, is seeking to negotiate free trade agreements (FTAs) with the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. All credible analysis suggests these potential trade deals combined would in no way compensate for loss of access to the EU market which we are about to suffer. FTAs with these priority countries should be complementary to a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU and not a substitute for it.