LONDON (Feb 6): The UK will pursue an “early trade deal” with Australia as Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to deliver on his promise of a boost to the country’s fortunes after it leaves the European Union. “Australia is a natural partner and we are ready to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal,” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) said in an emailed statement ahead of his arrival in Canberra on Thursday. In a speech on Monday, the prime minister said he is willing to walk away without a trade deal when the Brexit transition period expires at the end of the year. But the risk for Johnson is that trade negotiations with other countries the UK is prioritizing, including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, will drag on too long. “Following the UK’s departure from the EU, we have the chance to broaden our horizons to embrace the huge opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region including with Australia,” Raab said.

Source: The Edge Markets February 06, 2020 03:22 UTC