Buckingham MP Greg Smith has welcomed news that the UK-Australia trade deal is done.
This is the first the United Kingdom has negotiated from scratch, showing what the UK can do as a sovereign trading nation.
It is a fundamentally liberalising deal that strengthens the bond between two great friends and democracies.
It will create fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, removing tariffs on all British goods, opening up new markets for our services providers and tech firms, and making it easier for people to travel and work together.
By eliminating all tariffs on our imports and exports to Australia, iconic British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics will be cheaper to sell into Australia, boosting UK industries that employ 3.5 million people across the country. The deal also eliminates tariffs on Australian favourites like Jacob’s Creek and Hardys wines, swimwear and confectionery, boosting choice for British consumers and saving households up to £34 million a year.
The deal also makes it easier for people to travel between the UK and Australia, strengthening the historic ties between our two countries. Under the agreement, British people under the age of 35 will be able to travel and work in Australia more freely, opening up exciting opportunities for young people.
And really importantly for us here in Buckinghamshire, the deal supports and protects British farmers, so they can benefit from new trading opportunities. British farmers will be protected by a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and other safeguards. The government are also supporting agricultural producers to increase their exports overseas, including to new markets in the Indo-Pacific. Change can be incredibly unnerving, but Greg genuinely believes increased trade is a path to success for British farmers. The UK has the best food in the world - let's sell it to the world and reap the rewards.
This is global Britain at its best – looking outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and helping ensure every part of our country builds back better from the pandemic.
