Australasia and Canada: Foreign Relations

(asked on 20th January 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Australian, Canadian and New Zealand counterparts on a closer relationship with UK after the UK leaves the EU on 31 January 2020.


Answered by
Heather Wheeler Portrait
Heather Wheeler
This question was answered on 28th January 2020

The UK was pleased to host Commonwealth partners, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, at the sixth Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting in London last October. The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to deepening trade and investment ties across the Commonwealth and increased cooperation ahead of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June 2020.

Australia and New Zealand are close, historic partners. We will continue to deepen ties, including on tackling global challenges, strengthening people to people links and by working for even closer economic relationship through our plans for Free Trade Agreements following our exit from the EU. The relationship with Canada is invaluable to the UK. Our shared history and values make us natural partners

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