Australia has formally kicked off negotiations for a trade deal with the UK, four-and-a-half months after it left the European Union.
The two governments have been working on a possible trade deal since 2016, but negotiations could not formally start until Brexit took place on January 31.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is hopeful of a speedy resolution.
"This agreement will underpin the future economic relationship between our two countries and send a strong signal of our mutual support for free trade, which will be in a post COVID-19 world," he said on Wednesday.
He sees good opportunities for Australian farmers and other exporters along with the potential for a big boost in trade in services.
There are already significant people-to-people links and $1.1 trillion invested between the countries.
The UK is Australia's seventh-largest trading partner.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/austr ... 7123c9d547
16 Jun 2020, 9:58 pm
