AUSTRALIA – COMMERCE – GREAT BRITAIN

Unions demand detail of Australia’s free trade deal with UK citing concerns for workers

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Katharine Murphy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 17-Jun-21

ACTU president Michele O’Neil has urged the federal government to begin consultations with the union movement regarding the details of its ‘in-principle’ free-trade agreement with the UK. She says both governments have been secretive throughout the negotiations, and the proposed trade deal has not be subject to independent, union or public scrutiny. O’Neil is concerned that labour market testing rules will be watered down; she notes that a fact sheet released by the UK government suggests that Australian companies will no longer be required to prioritise hiring local workers.

CORPORATES
ACTU

UK open for quick trade talks

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 31-Jan-20

Britain is set to formally exit the European Union on 31 January, after the European Parliament approved the Brexit deal. Australia’s Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is optimistic that a free-trade agreement with the UK can be finalised by the start of 2021, when the 11-month Brexit transition period ends; he notes that the two nations have already struck some deals that will take effect at that time. Former trade minister Andrew Robb says ensuring that Australian farmers have better access to the British market will be crucial to a trade deal.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

London calling: Boris talks trade

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 16-Dec-19

The UK could potentially finalise a free-trade agreement with Australia within a year, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled that it will be a priority for his newly re-elected government in the post-Brexit environment. Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott says the UK election result will provide businesses with greater certainty, while a free-trade deal will benefit all Australians. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there are similarities between Johnson’s emphatic win and the Coalition’s election victory in May, as well as the election of US President Donald Trump in 2016.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LABOUR PARTY (GREAT BRITAIN)

Brexit plan set to delay FTA with Australia

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Hans van Leeuwen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 19-Nov-18

The Australian-British Chamber of Commerce’s executive director Elizabeth Ames claims that British Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal is "bad news" for both nations. The deal will put the UK in a customs union with the European Union until a longer-term free-trade agreement can be worked out. Ames says the UK could remain in the customs union indefinitely, during which time it would not be able to negotiate a trade deal with Australia or other nations. Australia exported $6.1 billion of goods to the UK in 2017, along with $5.4 billion worth of services.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Aussie FTA ‘is low on UK agenda’

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: 2 : 6-Oct-17

The Australian Government still aims to secure a free-trade agreement with the UK after it leaves the European Union. However, former UK government minister Peter Mandelson says the EU will remain Britain’s biggest export market post-Brexit, and maintaining this trade will be a much higher priority than a trade deal with Australia. He supports an FTA with Australia, but says this could never match the UK’s European export volumes.

CORPORATES
LABOUR PARTY (GREAT BRITAIN), GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, GLOBAL COUNSEL