UK announces post-Brexit trade deal with Australia
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.
June 14, 2021 in London.
REUTERS - HENRY NICHOLLS
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The United Kingdom announced on Tuesday (June 15th) that it had concluded a post-Brexit trade agreement with Australia, described as “historic” by the British government.
It is the first deal achieved by London that was not simply a renewal or adaptation of those that exist between the EU and other countries, according to a statement from Downing Street.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison struck a deal over dinner in Downing Street on Monday evening (June 14), according to the PA news agency. "
The two Prime Ministers had a positive meeting in London and resolved the lingering issues related to a free trade agreement,
" an Australian government spokesperson told AFP. This trade deal, which has yet to be signed, would be the first to be obtained by the UK that is not simply a renewal or adaptation of the agreements that exist between the EU and other countries.
However, it is causing great concern, including within the government but especially among British breeders who fear losing competitiveness against Australian beef and lamb.
Michael Gove, Minister responsible for coordinating government action, stressed on the BBC on Tuesday that "
the majority of Australian products go to Asia, it is their closest market
" and that
"the proportion of Australian meat which is likely to be arriving in the UK is going to be a fairly small part of their overall production
”.
“
We're going to maintain our high standards for things like hormone-boosted beef and chlorine-washed (chicken),
” added Michael Gove, anxious to reassure consumers.
Opening the doors to the trans-Pacific trade treaty
The British government hopes that this agreement with Australia will more easily open the doors to the Trans-Pacific Trade Treaty (CPTPP), which brings together 11 countries in America and Asia.
The latter authorized the United Kingdom in early June to initiate the procedure to join this vast free trade agreement.
The UK has already reached agreements with the EU and Japan and is in talks, outside Australia, with the US, India and New Zealand.
Negotiations are planned with Canada and Mexico.
London still expects to secure a trade agreement with the United States, although progress seems meager for the time being.
It was not mentioned in the reports of the meeting between Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden on Thursday on the eve of the G7 in Cornwall (south-west of England).
(
with AFP
)
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