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[free trade agreement],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.
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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.