Talks were productive, and good progress was made
towards a comprehensive deal between our two nations.
Both sides shared draft chapter text or papers
outlining their preferred approach, and the groundwork
was laid for an initial exchange of tariff offers.
Officials from 12 different UK government departments
held discussions with Australian officials, with some
further sessions coming over the next week that will
mean talks will have spanned the breadth of the FTA.
Both countries are committed to removing trade barriers
and creating new opportunities for business, and
believe a deep and dynamic agreement can send a clear
signal to the world that both the UK and Australia are
prepared to fight protectionism and advance free and
fair trade.
Discussions were productive over all chapter areas,
including Digital and Telecoms, where there is a shared
willingness to go even further than CPTPP and consider
more ambitious proposals.
The number of discussions has now totalled 73 sessions
over the first two rounds of talks and both sides have
committed to further discussions ahead of round three.
This includes on Competition, Digital, Goods,
Government Procurement, and Rules of Origin.
The UK and Australia are both keen to continue the
momentum of discussions, and the third negotiating
round is expected to take place in November.
Below is a summary list of those areas discussed in the
round, which continued to take place by video
conference:
- Anti-Corruption and Transparency
- Competition
- Cross-cutting general provisions
- Digital/e-commerce
- Environment
- Financial Services
- Trade in Goods
- Good Regulatory Practice
- Government Procurement
- Intellectual Property
- Investment
- Labour
- Trade Remedies
- Rules of Origin
- Services, including Movement of Natural Persons,
Professional Business Services, and Transport Services
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
- State Owned Enterprises
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
- State-to-State Dispute Settlement
- Technical Barriers to Trade
- Telecommunications
We also had further positive discussions on Clean
Growth, Development, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and
Innovation.
Any deal the Government strikes must be fair,
reciprocal, and ultimately in the best interests of the
British people and the economy.
