(Tim Hammond/via Xinhua)
LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) – The UK has entered into a free trade agreement with Australia, the first major trade deal negotiated from scratch since the UK left the European Union (EU ), the British government announced on Tuesday.
According to the duty free pact, British cars, Scotch whiskey and confectionery will be cheaper to sell in Australia, boosting affected industries which employ 3.5 million people across the country, the ministry said. of International Trade in a press release.
Under the deal, UK farmers will be protected by a cap on duty-free imports for 15 years and Britons under 35 will be able to travel and work more freely in Australia, the statement said.
“The main elements of the deal were agreed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a meeting in Downing Street last night,” the statement said, adding that “a final tentative agreement will be published in the next few days “.
“This agreement paves the way for us to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 9 trillion pound ($ 12.670 billion) free trade area home to some of the largest consumer markets of today and tomorrow,” said Liz Truss, UK Minister for International Trade.
Trade between the two countries was worth 13.9 billion pounds (19.57 billion dollars) in 2020 and will increase under the agreement, the statement said. End
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