It’s now three weeks since the UK ended the Brexit transition period after having secured a trade deal with the European Union.

As we adjust to this new relationship, it is worth reflecting on what it means for us.

Agreeing the terms was always going to be tough, and it was not a surprise that negotiations went down to the wire.

It was inevitable the most sensitive and difficult areas would still be on the table in the final days.

The leave deadline certainly kept hearts and minds focused, as ‘No deal’ was not in the interests of either side.?

But the deal struck is better than many thought possible, even though we were starting from a shared and common base.

Even so, the delivery of a trade deal of this magnitude in the time frame is an immense achievement for both sides.??

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement goes further than any other EU trade deal with a so-called ‘third country’, and this achievement should not be understated.

It has three pillars – a free trade agreement covering the economic and social partnership, including transport, energy and mobility, a cooperation framework between law enforcement and judicial authorities across civil and criminal matters, and an overarching governance arrangement.?

There are common principles to inform both sides’ subsidy control systems, a mutual commitment on labour and social protections, and a similar approach on environmental issues.

For instance commitments to maintain the reduction of Green House Gases and to a system of carbon pricing.?

The UK and the EU will have their own independent energy and climate policies, but will co-operate when it is in their mutual interest to do so.?

UK science and research will be eligible for the new Horizon Europe scheme that runs until 2027, and the UK will also participate in other EU programmes.?

The UK will no longer be in the Erasmus student exchange programme, but will have a wider programme called the ‘Turing’ scheme.??

This will fund about 35,000 study, work placement and exchange places, and will also aim to improve access for a wider range of young people.

Northern Ireland’s unique situation is also recognised in the special arrangements for it.

These ensure no border either across the island of Ireland or down the Irish Sea.?

Britain is now outside the jurisdiction of the European Courts of Justice and out of the single market and customs union.

And there are zero tariffs and quotas on the trading of goods.

There is no commitment to regulatory alignment, but there is an approach agreed that delivers what would be its key benefits for trade, without a loss of sovereignty.?

It is particularly important for some sectors, including the farming community here in East Hampshire.???

Clearly we also need so-called trade ‘friction’ to be minimised, and this will be a matter for close parliamentary scrutiny.?

Friction minimisation is also important for European companies – and especially for example German, French, Belgian and Dutch ones .?

Some areas still need to be developed, for instance on financial services, data adequacy requirements and mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

Focusing on these will be important, not only for some of our key sectors, but also for the opportunities it affords individual citizens from the UK and Europe.?

The referendum campaign and its aftermath were very divisive times, sometimes horribly so.?

We needed an exit agreement that would deliver – fully – on the outcome of the referendum.

One that also retained the key advantages of our close trading, security and cultural ties with our near neighbours.??

As the Prime Minister said, we are still part of Europe and that relationship remains very important to us.

But we are also a wholly sovereign state, able to determine our future more freely than before, heralding a new era for the UK and our place in the world.