Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for his question. It was an historic announcement last night in London between Prime Ministers Morrison and Johnson agreeing to the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, which will deliver more Australian jobs and new opportunities for our exporters. It's going to bring greater access to a larger range of products, greater access for businesses and workers, and more opportunities for Australian producers and farmers in the UK market. It is about creating new opportunities and jobs for business by eliminating tariffs on each other's goods and removing the red tape that slows trade down. It is about enhancing pathways for workers and young people to work in both countries, it is about making it easier for our service companies and professionals to do business in each other's markets, and it is about deepening our already very strong investment ties.

In fact, the Australia-UK FTA is Australia's most ambitious free trade agreement with any country other than New Zealand. Both countries have made commercially significant commitments that will strengthen our diversification and export focused COVID-19 recovery. The ambitious bilateral free trade agreement will also help pave the way for the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, furthering our cooperation within the CPTPP on a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific.

We have sent the world a very strong signal that we are trading nations that believe in democracy, open markets, high standards and the rules-based global trading system. This deal delivers a strong message about the strength and importance of this relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom, and it opens a new chapter in the long and close history between our two nations.