UK begins post-Brexit free trade talks with Australia, New Zealand as 'next big step'

While the UK is still able to make only a ‘limited progress’ in its negotiations with the EU, Australia and New Zealand announced on June 16 that they have launched post-Brexit free trade talks with Britain as “next big step”. Australian trade minister Simon Birmingham and New Zealand’s trade minister David Parker, both expressed delight on embarking talks with “friends” in the UK after more than four months since the UK left the 27-nation-bloc on January 31. Birmingham even said that the country has been planning these negotiations with the UK since it had decided to leave the EU.

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Australia ready to help UK

Australian trade minister has said that the nation is ready to help Britain with its new beginnings as the third country by offering Australian farmers, businesses as well as investors. According to international media reports, the UK is already the seventh-largest trading partner for the island nation nad Birmingham wants to Australia and the UK to conclude trade negotiation ‘as quickly as possible’ even before the 11-month transition period of Britain ends with EU on December 31, 2020. However, he acknowledged that the timeline might be too ambitious but has said that both nations are hoping for a ‘comprehensive agreement’ that benefits both sides. 

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New Zealand hails ‘shared history’ with UK

New Zealand trade minister said that the nation has ‘common values and traditions and a shared history’ with the UK along with a prominent economic relationship. According to reports, New Zealand’s sixth-largest trading partner is Britain but China, Australia and the EU are the top traders for New Zealand. Parker has briefed that the focus on the NZ-UK trade talks would remain on suspending the sanctions and will seek non-tariff barriers, more streamlined customs along with the development of digital trade. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also told the reporters that both nations would try to overcome the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic as “close friends”.

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