Chambers welcome start of trade deals with Australia and New Zealand

Reacting to the news that the trade deals with Australia and New Zealand will come into force on 31 May, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is good news to hear that the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand will finally come into force at the end of the month.

“These deals will lower tariffs, simplify customs procedures, allow for greater freedom of movement for labour and provide stronger market access for the UK’s world-leading services sector.

“But the success of any free trade agreement comes down to whether businesses use it, so it’s vital the Government shouts from the rooftops about these new opportunities.

“A recent BCC survey also found almost a quarter of firms (23%) said finding a business partner or distributor overseas would encourage them to either start exporting or export more.

“We have strong Chambers in both Australia and New Zealand and will be working with them to get the most out of these trade deals for all our economies.”

If you would like support with starting trade in new markets contact our International Trade Team on 01223 237414 or email internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk.

You can view the full list of all our courses on the Chamber website.

Courses can also be tailored to meet your company’s specific requirements. For more information about a bespoke course for your company, which can be delivered remotely or in person, please contact the Chamber on 01223 237414.

The UK government produced its classification of plant and animal origin food products into low, medium and high-risk for the purposes of inbound GB border checks.

Consultation on inbound GB border processes is open until Friday 19 May. 

Policy around measures to tackle carbon leakage is a fast-emerging issue on the business radar. A major consultation on the UK response to this is underway.

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is expected to return to the House of Lords later this month.

The BCC gave evidence to the House of Lords European Affairs Committee on the post-Brexit UK labour market, business travel and services access to the EU.