NZ a post-Brexit trade partner

– British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that New Zealand could expect to be one of the first nations to ink a trade deal with London once Brexit was finalised.

Johnson met Prime Minister Bill English for talks that covered trade, international security and Britain’s ties with its former colony.

“These are two countries that really do think on the same lines on so many of the issues that matter to our people and to our electorates,” Johnson told reporters after the meeting.

Johnson said Britain was keen to pursue trade deals with New Zealand and other nations once its withdrawal from the European Union – scheduled for March 2019 – was complete.

He said New Zealand would be “at or near the front of the queue” when Britain was negotiating post-Brexit pacts. – AFP