As Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since January 2023, Elisabeth Bowes is best placed to report on outcomes from the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA). Previously, she was First Assistant Secretary of the Free Trade Agreements and Stakeholder Engagement Division, and Chief Negotiator of the A-UKFTA at commencement in mid-2020.
Q. Has negotiating with an economy that is a longstanding partner made things easier? The UK and Australia have a modern and enduring partnership underpinned by our common political and legal systems, shared values, strong people-to-people links, closely aligned strategic outlook, and substantial trade and investment links. Our likeminded interests enabled us to negotiate one of the most comprehensive, innovative, and ambitious free trade agreements, with strong commitments and new provisions in a range of areas: environment (including climate change), gender equality, innovation, and labour. Strong political will to conclude this agreement, the UK’s first truly new agreement post-Brexit, also facilitated the negotiations.
Q. What are some key achievements and benefits from the negotiations?
The A-UKFTA also identifies areas for close cooperation on climate change and environmental protection, including to help deliver both countries’ commitment to addressing climate change and supporting the transition to net zero, clean energy technologies and low carbon economies. Both countries have also agreed to provisions in the FTA that will facilitate cooperation on women’s economic empowerment, innovation and animal welfare issues. Q. Where can people go for advice and information about this and other free trade agreements? DFAT’s “Trade and Investment” page dfat.gov.au/trade/trade-and- investment sets out information on market access, the benefits of foreign investment, and making the most of each and every one of Australia’s FTAs, including with the UK. It holds information such as case studies and trade statistics. Our FTA Portal is a great resource for traders to compare FTAs for specific products and of course, DFAT works incredibly closely with Austrade to support Australian companies looking to take advantage of the opportunities under the FTA.
The A-UKFTA is a win-win agreement, with balanced
outcomes for both Australia and the UK. As well as comprehensive outcomes across areas such as goods, services and investment, the agreement has measures to grow trade and investment opportunities for First Nations businesses, with commitments to help protect Indigenous copyright
and intellectual property. An example of this is expanded
reciprocity arrangements for resale rights of First Nations art products. Australia’s deep people-to-people links with the UK allowed us to achieve meaningful outcomes in labour mobility and to attract talented and skilled professionals to work and live in both countries. This is signified through new and streamlined visa arrangements for business professionals, and expansion of working holiday and youth mobility programs. An exciting pilot under the Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange will help facilitate more ideas and talent into the Australian economy.
Links dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/aukfta
ftaportal.dfat.gov.au
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
business envoy
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