Australia, UK Explore Options to Deepen Trade Ties

Exploratory discussions between the UK and Australia for a post-Brexit trade deal are expected to continue this week, media reports suggest, with some officials noting that migration will likely be an area of interest during the talks. The two sides already confirmed late last year their plans to establish a working group to begin scoping out options for a future bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) once the UK exits the EU. (See Bridges Weekly, 7 September 2016 ) According to Alexander Downer, Australia’s High Commissioner to London, Canberra’s substantive expectations for the potential FTA with London will include a more relaxed immigration deal for Australian workers. “We would want to see greater access for Australian businesspeople working in the UK and that’s often been a part of free trade negotiations – it hasn’t always been by the way, but it’s often been part of our free trade negotiations,” Downer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. In terms of present immigration rules, Australians entering the UK for work must obtain a tier two visa, which allows them to stay in Britain for a maximum of five years and 14 days. In order to qualify for this visa, Australians must have a...