FREE TRADE – GOVERNMENT POLICY – GREAT BRITAIN

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

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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

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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

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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)

Boris fast-tracks Aussie deal

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 27-Aug-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has met with his British counterpart Boris Johnson during the G7 leaders’ summit in France. They discussed issues such as the US-China trade war, Brexit and the UK’s plans to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Morrison has also indicated that the two nations will act quickly to secure a free-trade agreement when Britain leaves the European Union. Britain is currently Australia’s eighth-largest trading partner and the second-largest source of direct foreign investment.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7), UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Aussie FTA ‘is low on UK agenda’

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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