Long-awaited free trade deal with UK to finally come into effect

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London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised the free trade agreement struck by the former Morrison government as one of the best Australia has ever done, announcing it will finally come into effect on May 31.

Albanese made the announcement while visiting Bondi Green, an Australian cafe in London’s Paddington, which is run by Victorian-born Prue Freeman.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Aussie-owned cafe Bondi Green in London to spruik the benefits of the FTA.Credit: Domenico Pugliese

“Having come here, sampled the food, coffee and the wine, [visitors] will go away and think, I wouldn’t mind coming down to Australia if this is what Australia can produce,” he said.

“You are indeed an ambassador for Australian tourism as well. Now the FTA, I think is a very exciting one, it is one of the best FTAs that Australia has done.”

Albanese added that the agreement would lead to the importation of more Australian meat, wine, fish and spices into the UK.

While he paid tribute to the Australian High Commission in London for ensuring the deal’s start date could be announced during his visit for the coronation of King Charles III, the prime minister made no mention of the former government’s work in negotiating the deal.

The agreement, projected to boost trade by $11.8 billion over the long run, opens up sectors such as agriculture and allows for freer movement for service-sector professionals.

The UK has been slower to ratify the agreement struck under former leader Boris Johnson. During the leadership contest to replace him, Sunak, who lost to Liz Truss, criticised the Australian arrangement as bad for British farmers.

But Albanese insisted Sunak was now a fan.

“I have a good relationship with Prime Minister Sunak and I have had two meetings with him to discuss the free trade agreement it and he’s very supportive of the agreement going forward.”

Albanese said the deal was a “win-win” for both sides because it would lead to deflation.

“When you take off tariffs of goods what you do is you make them cheaper,” he said. “Products becoming cheaper is deflation … and that will have a positive impact on our economy.

“This is a good thing for both countries, this is a win-win. More goods in Australia, more goods in the United Kingdom; more diversity of products in both countries.”

Freeman said she hoped to import Australian spices and cheese including Meredith goat cheese.

“It’s actually made on the farm next to mine in Victoria, we tried to import it a couple of years ago so really excited to get that over here,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Australian businesswoman Prue FreemanCredit: Domenico Pugliese

“For ten years I’ve been trying to get some great Australian products over here that would just take our food a step further.

“We started to get some but hopefully we might be able to get a lot more, so things like wattle seeds, lemon myrtle, pepper berries – which is something that everyone at home is enjoying but we haven’t seen a lot of over here.”

Albanese later met the Prince of Wales at Kensington Palace having earlier met key members of the opposition frontbench including Labour leader Keir Starmer.

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