James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill is currently working its way through the UK parliament, and is legislation that allows the United Kingdom to ratify and implement free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
The Bill is an ultimate benefit of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, providing the UK with the ability to pursue its own independent trade policy with like-minded nations, and acting as a stepping stone towards future CANZUK-orientated agreements.
The Bill also grants the government the necessary powers to extend duties and remedies to suppliers from Australia and New Zealand, to modify domestic procurement regulations to align with the Australia agreement, and to make changes to ensure compliance with the agreements over the long term.
Once the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand take effect, they will have a number of benefits for businesses and citizens across the UK. For example, the agreements are expected to boost the UK economy by approximately £2.3 billion from the Australia FTA and £800 million from the New Zealand FTA. The agreements will also eliminate tariffs on UK exports to Australia and New Zealand, including cars, chocolate, Scotch whisky, and fashion, as well as buses, excavators, and ships.
In addition, the agreements have flexible rules of origin, which allow UK businesses to use some imported parts and ingredients and still qualify for the new 0% tariffs when exporting to both countries.
The Bill also grants the government the necessary powers to extend duties and remedies to suppliers from Australia and New Zealand, to modify domestic procurement regulations to align with the Australia agreement, and to make changes to ensure compliance with the agreements over the long term.
Once the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand take effect, they will have a number of benefits for businesses and citizens across the UK. For example, the agreements are expected to boost the UK economy by approximately £2.3 billion from the Australia FTA and £800 million from the New Zealand FTA. The agreements will also eliminate tariffs on UK exports to Australia and New Zealand, including cars, chocolate, Scotch whisky, and fashion, as well as buses, excavators, and ships.
In addition, the agreements have flexible rules of origin, which allow UK businesses to use some imported parts and ingredients and still qualify for the new 0% tariffs when exporting to both countries.
The agreements will also remove UK import tariffs on goods from Australia and New Zealand, such as wine, swimwear, surfboards, boots, manuka honey, and kiwi fruit, which will give UK consumers more choices and lower prices. UK manufacturers will also have cheaper access to ingredients, materials, and components from Australia and New Zealand, including hydraulic power engines and pressure reducing valves from Australia, and make-up and biscuit ingredients from New Zealand.
Additionally – and most importantly for the CANZUK campaign – the agreements will make it easier for British citizens to live, travel, and work in Australia and New Zealand. This includes provisions for extending the age-limit of working visas from 30 to 35, and removing the requirement to undertake “regional work” (commonly participated as three months of farm or rural work) to qualify for visa extensions in Australia.
Therefore, the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill could potentially serve as a model for a future CANZUK agreement. The provisions in these agreements – such as the elimination of tariffs on goods, the flexible rules of origin, and the liberalizing of visa protocols, could and should be extended to Canada, thereby creating a four-nation agreement for which further negotiations and protocols can be established.
A full and comprehensive outline of the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill can be found on the UK Government’s website here.
At present, the Bill is undertaking its second reading in the UK House of Lords, and will require further readings and Royal Assent before its provisions can become law. CANZUK International will continue to monitor the proceedings as they happen and update accordingly.
Additionally – and most importantly for the CANZUK campaign – the agreements will make it easier for British citizens to live, travel, and work in Australia and New Zealand. This includes provisions for extending the age-limit of working visas from 30 to 35, and removing the requirement to undertake “regional work” (commonly participated as three months of farm or rural work) to qualify for visa extensions in Australia.
Therefore, the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill could potentially serve as a model for a future CANZUK agreement. The provisions in these agreements – such as the elimination of tariffs on goods, the flexible rules of origin, and the liberalizing of visa protocols, could and should be extended to Canada, thereby creating a four-nation agreement for which further negotiations and protocols can be established.
A full and comprehensive outline of the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill can be found on the UK Government’s website here.
At present, the Bill is undertaking its second reading in the UK House of Lords, and will require further readings and Royal Assent before its provisions can become law. CANZUK International will continue to monitor the proceedings as they happen and update accordingly.
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