Australian negotiators arrive to begin post-Brexit trade talks
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/...t-trade-talks/
Australian negotiators arrive to begin post-Brexit trade talks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telegraph
Australian officials are ready to begin work on a free-trade deal with the UK, and have recently flown in to begin hammering out the details of a landmark pact, the country’s top official in Britain has revealed.
A senior negotiator from Canberra has already arrived in Britain, while top civil servants from Australia have briefed their counterparts in London on the ins and outs of trade deals, High Commissioner Alexander Downer told The Sunday Telegraph.
Theresa May met the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, last month, when they agreed to kickstart trade talks imminently, while Australia’s trade minister also met his British counterpart Liam Fox.
A deal could make goods such as wine, beef and dairy products cheaper as UK shoppers would no longer have to pay the EU’s import taxes, while Australia is a big buyer of British cars.
Mr Downer said: “We import a lot of Range Rovers and Land Rovers and Bentleys.”
A deal would also cover services such as finance.
Mr Downer said the two countries would soon start scouting out potential disputes and areas of agreement. He insisted Australia would want few barriers: “Our starting point is always that free trade means free trade, to borrow a phrase.”
The two sides have agreed to form a working group, which is expected to prepare the way for formal negotiations. Australia also offered to help Britain by lending the UK some trade negotiators and experts, as Britain has not had an independent trade policy since joining the EU 43 years ago.
Now it has emerged that the two governments followed through on those offers almost instantly, with training from Australia’s experienced negotiators forming the first step. “Two people who were our ambassadors to the World Trade Organisation have been over here talking to British officials,” Mr Downer said. Officials have also arrived from Canberra to clear the way to full negotiations.
Good to hear the talks have properly begun now. Meanwhile our lovely French 'friends' are threatening us.
The most interesting swap between Australia/New Zealand and Britain will be in the area of agriculture for them and financial services for us. Cheaper food here and more access to London/financial services for them. Prior to us joining the EEC, New Zealand was famous for supplying us with their cheaper lamb and butter... then we had to buy French. Bon voyage!
Thoughts?
