What's on the agenda for the UK-Australia trade deal?

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The protection of UK farmers, the removal of tariffs on certain imports and an emphasis on jobs and free movement are all part of a recent free trade deal struck between the UK and Australia in a meeting held between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison this week.

Johnson hailed a "new dawn" between Anglo-Australian relations as the leaders looked to cooperate further on security, climate change, science, and tech following on from the G7 summit held over the weekend.

Read more: G7 talks spur renewables drive and climate safety pledge

The deal sees a particular emphasis on the agricultural sector, with the prime minister taking into consideration woes from British farmers when faced with cheap meat imports from a greater agricultural power.

A cap on tariff-free imports will be in place for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and other safeguards in order to "protect British farmers," the government revealed on June 15.

There will also be measures in place to allow producers to increase their exports overseas, including to new markets in the Indo-Pacific.

However, animal welfare activists are concerned this could lead to a laxing in food regulation and standards, opening the potential for hormone-treated meat in the British market.

The government, however, have vehemently denied this will be the case, echoing its addressing of similar concerns last year over a potential post-Brexit food trade deal with the US.

The RSPCA also issued an open letter to the prime minister, urging him not to ratify the deal over concerns over animal welfare.

Furthermore, details on the deal are currently sparse, with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) calling for more information on the specifics of the deal to ease tensions in the agri-food sector.

“I am concerned that today’s announcement appears to have made no mention of animal welfare and environmental standards," said NFU President Minette Batters.

"While the government has previously been keen to highlight how our Free Trade Agreements will uphold our high standards of food production, there has always been a question mark over how this can be achieved while opening up our markets to food produced to different standards."

“While details remain very thin on the ground, it appears that the agreement will include important safeguards that attempt to strike a balance between liberalising trade and supporting UK farm businesses, as well as a reasonable time period to allow UK farmers to adjust to the new trading environment," she added.

This marks the first major trade deal since the UK's withdrawal from the European Union at the turn of the new year. Johnson revealed this as a stepping stone for fully integrating with the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), something it has already applied entry for.

Read more: UK applies for membership of Trans-Pacific free trade group

The partnership has an annual uptake of roughly £9 trillion (€10.4 trillion).

Johnson has promised the deal will save British consumers around £34 million a year - roughly 52p per year per person, or 1p a week - and could stand to increase the UK's GDP by as much as 0.02%, according to some analysts.

Critics have argued this is not enough of a net gain for the UK regarding potential economic benefits to justify the lowering of standards or greater benefits for Australia owing to the concerns raised by the agricultural sector.

Another item of particular note is the removal of barriers for young people to live and work in Australia without strict legal requirements.

Brits under the age of 35 are offered freedom of movement - similar to those originally offered under EU membership - and an extension of work and holiday visas without the need to work on Australian farms or construction sites.

The government described this as opening a work of "exciting new opportunities" for young people.

Johnson said in a statement: "This is global Britain at its best – looking outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and help ensure every part of the country builds back better from the pandemic."

Also on the agenda is a 5% to tariffs on cars, particularly those made in the Midlands and the North.

This has been met with criticism owing to measures already in place, meaning it will not make much of a difference to luxury car brands.

Furthermore, tariffs will be removed for machinery trade between Northern Ireland and Australia. These parts are used extensively in Australia’s mining, quarrying and recycling sectors, which could spark further environmental and humanitarian concerns, particularly given the track records for companies such as Rio Tinto.

Read more: Juukan Gorge: traditional owners want a say in Rio Tinto's mining operations

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss, said the deal delivers for Britain and shows what it can achieve as an "independent nation."

"It is a fundamentally liberalising agreement that removes tariffs on all British goods, opens new opportunities for our services providers and tech firms, and makes it easier for our people to travel and work together."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the two nations need to "work on their economic strengths."

“That takes many forms," he added. "It’s investing in our critical supply chains, in critical technologies and ensuring that the economic strength and advantages that we have in our partnership go further, go higher to reinforce the jobs and the success of our economies in what is a very, very challenging period."

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