Skilled workers to win in UK trade pact
Freer movement of skilled workers between Australia and Britain will be up for negotiation under a post-Brexit trade deal.
New rules allowing freer movement of skilled workers between Australia and Britain will be up for negotiation when talks get under way on a post-Brexit trade deal.
UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss was in Canberra on Wednesday for preliminary discussions with Australian counterpart Simon Birmingham, declaring Britain wanted to sign a comprehensive trade deal with Australia within “months rather than years” of leaving the European Union.
She said Britain and Australia had a special bond, and improved reciprocal work rights were “certainly something that we will be looking at as part of our free-trade negotiations”.
“We want a fully comprehensive trade deal that reflects our deep, ongoing relationship; the friendship between our two countries; the fact that Australians want to come and live and work in Britain, and Brits want to come and live and work in Australia,” Ms Truss said.
“And leaving the European Union really does give us a chance as a country to become more outward-looking, to become more competitive, and to deepen our links with our partners right across the world.”
Ms Truss said Brexit represented a “massive opportunity” for the UK and Australia to strengthen their trade relationship.
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