Australia will be ready for a trade deal with the UK soon after Brexit, but will try to do one with the EU first, said Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's PM.
[...] In a joint press conference, the UK and Australian leaders expressed enthusiasm for an ambitious deal as soon as possible after the UK leaves the EU.
Speaking alongside May in Downing Street, Turnbull said Australians “do not muck around” when it comes to free trade, which he said was responsible for the nation’s prosperity.
“As Britain moves to completing its exit from the EU, we stand ready to enter into a free trade agreement with the UK as soon as the UK is able to do so,” he said. “Once Brexit is achieved, we look forward to speedily concluding a free trade agreement. At the same time, we are looking forward to the early conclusion of a free trade agreement with the EU.”
Turnbull said he hoped the EU deal could be finalised before the expected date of Brexit in March 2019.
And asked how quickly a UK agreement could follow, he said: “As soon as possible. We move quickly. Australians are fleet of foot, we don’t muck around, we are very simple. So we will move as quickly as the UK is able to move.”
Although the UK is unable to complete its own trade deals before leaving the EU in March 2019, ministers are able to lay the groundwork for an agreement, with Liam Fox, the trade secretary, planning to visit Australia for preliminary talks in the coming months. [...]
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