Boris Johnson stares down rebel Tories on zero-tariff trade deal with Australia

Amid opposition from his own cabinet, Boris Johnson says a free trade deal with Australia is a ‘massive opportunity for Scotland and the UK’.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons overnight (AEST). Picture: AFP

Boris Johnson says a free trade deal with Australia is a “massive opportunity for Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom’’ as he prepares to face down a last minute rebellion within his cabinet.

The British prime minister is not only confronted with a split among senior Tories, but also by opposition from the Scottish National Party as to whether the UK should agree to zero tariffs for agricultural produce, as wanted by Australia.

Ahead of a Thursday cabinet meeting that will determine the broad outline of the upcoming trade deal, SNP leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson was throwing Scottish farmers under the Brexit bus, claiming any Australian zero tariffs trade deal would be “disastrous for Scottish farmers” and result in the loss of livelihoods.

Mr Johnson responded that Scottish farmers would be able to do “great things” with free trade deals, with Scottish farm produce exported around the world.

Former environment minister George Eustice wants a 15-year introduction on zero tariffs for agricultural goods. Picture: Getty Images

Former environment minister George Eustice and cabinet minister Michael Gove have been pushing for a lengthy 15-year introduction to zero tariffs on agricultural goods — particularly Australian beef and lamb — to protect Scottish and Welsh farmers.

They have also steadfastly stood by the UK’s farming and food standards, demanding that any Australian beef has to be hormone-free and that pork has to be without the growth hormone additive ractopamine.

Some of Australia’s cattle is given up to five different hormones to add size, but the Australian livestock Association says UK meat imports could follow the Australian-Chinese trade deal whereby hormone residue meat is banned.

The political sensitivities for Mr Johnson include rising independence sentiment in both Wales and Scotland. However the prime minister wants to set a firm standard for other free trade deals to follow.

Mr Johnson is clearly backing trade minister Liz Truss and chief EU negotiator David Frost who have been advocating zero agriculture tariffs to set a benchmark for future trade deals with other nations, and also to appease Australia, which is helping Britain gain access to the 11-Pacific nation trade deal known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Thursday’s showdown within the British cabinet comes at a pivotal moment. The free trade deal was initially spruiked as being a deal among like-minded allies and was to have been signed before Christmas. After Australian trade Minister Dan Tehan visited London recently for face-to-face talks with Ms Truss, it was understood that an outline of a deal would be announced at the G7 summit in Cornwall in June attended by Mr Johnson and Scott Morrison.