Brexit leaders working on major global trade deals
Key talks are held in US and Australia
SENIOR FIGURES leading Britain’s divorce from Europe have embarked on key talks to shore up Britain’s place in the global economy.
As Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived in Australia on the latest leg of his extended overseas mission to drum up trade deals for the UK after Brexit, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is in Washington for talks with US trade representatives, claimed Brexit offered an “unprecedented opportunity” to reshape Britain’s independent trading ambitions.
Marking his arrival, US president Donald Trump talked up prospects of a “very big and exciting” post-Brexit trade deal between the US and UK, amid controversy over whether Britain would have to relax food standards to secure an agreement. In a tweet, President Trump hit out at the “protectionist” EU and said work was under way on what could be a “major” deal with the UK.
At a breakfast meeting with members of Congress, Dr Fox outlined a UK report showing trading relationships between Britain and each of the 435 US Congressional districts.
A new US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group will seek to expand commercial links already worth more than £150bn a year, he said.
Mr Johnson will meet his opposite number Julie Bishop and join Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon to take part in the annual Aukmin summit of UK and Australian ministers to discuss defence and foreign affairs. But he said post-Brexit trade would be “top of the agenda” for the three-day visit, which follows stops in Japan and New Zealand.
“The bonds of kinship between Britain and Australia are deep and enduring,” said Mr Johnson.
“Our relationship is based on shared history, interests and values, with large numbers of our nationals making each other’s countries home.
Liam Fox and Boris Johnson must not be able to stitch up trade deals. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable.
“I look forward to strengthening even further our partnerships on global challenges and opportunities, such as North Korea, the fight against extremism and terror, modern slavery and trade.
“Talks with businesses and government on boosting trade between us when we leave the EU will also be at the top of agenda.”
New Zealand’s foreign minister Gerry Brownlee said there was a “strong interest” in swiftly concluding a free trade agreement with the UK after Brexit – adding it will “bring our two countries closer together”.
But following controversy over the US practice of washing poultry carcasses in chlorinated water to reduce the risk of contaminated meat, Labour accused Dr Fox of being prepared to “abandon British poultry farmers in favour of cheap US imports that do not meet our sanitary or animal welfare standards”.
The row came as the House of Lords Energy and Environment sub-committee warned that animal welfare standards could be undermined if post-Brexit trade deals leave UK farmers competing against less-regulated foreign rivals.
The peers also raised concerns about the “overwhelming reliance” on EU citizens in crucial veterinary positions and urged ministers to make sure the industry was able to fill those roles.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable called on the Government to guarantee parliament a vote on any post-Brexit trade deals.
“Liam Fox and Boris Johnson must not be able to stitch up trade deals abroad and impose them on the country,” he said.
FOREIGN SECRETARY Boris Johnson has said the General Election “did not evolve entirely in the way the Government had hoped”, as he dismissed speculation about a leadership bid.
Mr Johnson said the British public did not have an appetite for “any more political kerfuffle”, adding people wanted to see the Government get on with the job of Brexit.
He was speaking during a press conference at New Zealand’s parliament buildings in Wellington, during a trip designed to strengthen ties with the Commonwealth state as the UK seeks new trading links after leaving the European Union.
The Foreign Secretary is on the latest leg of a nine-day international tour that will see him head to Australia next.
After delivering a statement in which he said New Zealand would be “at or near the front of the queue” for a free trade deal after the UK leaves the 27-member bloc, the Uxbridge MP was quizzed about his political ambitions.
Mr Johnson was greeted by a shout of “Boris for PM” at a ceremony in Wellington – but the Foreign Secretary played down the idea of him replacing PM Theresa May.
He said: “I also spotted a protester who took a diametrically opposed view.
“What the British people want to see is a government that gets on with the job and they’ve got that with Theresa and we are going to deliver a great Brexit deal.
“A deal that works for our European friends, for the UK, but also works for New Zealand.
“What the British people want to see is us getting on with the job.
“They see no need for any more political kerfuffle.”