“This deal is important,of course it is,” Morrison said during the G7 summit being hosted by Johnson in Cornwall.
“But I’m patient for the right deal – not any deal. And it’s important,I think,for both countries that we get the right deal. And so I’ll be patient for that.”
Wary of a backlash by British farmers,Whitehall trade negotiators want tariffs on Australian beef and lamb products phased out over 15 years - a proposal the Australian side is unlikely to accept.
Loading
Johnson’s cabinet is split between those who think a true free trade deal should sweep away all tariffs and quotas,and others who fear more Australian meat will harm British farmers and want caps on how much fresh food can be imported into the United Kingdom.
Morrison will have dinner with Johnson at Downing Street on Monday evening where the pair will seek to resolve the agricultural issue and other outstanding areas of disagreement.
Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan has been meeting daily with Britain’s International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to clear the way for the prime ministerial approval.