James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
Members of the House of Lords have begun their line by line examination of the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill in committee stage.
The Bill is legislation that allows the United Kingdom to ratify and implement free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, and acts as a stepping stone towards future CANZUK-orientated trade and mobility arrangements.
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.
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.
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.
The Bill has progressed through to the committee stage of the House of Lords, which is the first opportunity for the Lords to check the Bill in detail and recommend any changes.
So far, Members speaking at the committee stage have recommended the following amendments:
• The power to implement sections of the bill, such as government procurement Chapters
• Requiring an assessment of the impact of implementing the procurement Chapters on farmers and the market for food within the UK
• The impact of the implementation of the procurement sections of the bill on the National Health Service.
A full and comprehensive outline of the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill can be found on the UK Government’s website here.
Following the committee stage, the Bill 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.
The Bill has progressed through to the committee stage of the House of Lords, which is the first opportunity for the Lords to check the Bill in detail and recommend any changes.
So far, Members speaking at the committee stage have recommended the following amendments:
• The power to implement sections of the bill, such as government procurement Chapters
• Requiring an assessment of the impact of implementing the procurement Chapters on farmers and the market for food within the UK
• The impact of the implementation of the procurement sections of the bill on the National Health Service.
A full and comprehensive outline of the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill can be found on the UK Government’s website here.
Following the committee stage, the Bill 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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