The Prime Minister has agreed with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins that the UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements are expected to come into force on the 31 May, so UK business and consumers can access the benefits.
These deals are tailored to suit the UK's strengths and can grow the size of the UK economy, benefitting all nations and regions across the UK. They remove tariffs on 100% of UK goods exports, slash red tape, guarantee access for services and digital trade and make it easier for professionals to live and work in Australia and New Zealand. The deals also bring us closer to two key allies on the global stage – and are instrumental in our tilt towards the growing Indo Pacific region.
The deals do not compromise on the UK’s high environment, animal welfare and food safety standards. All imports will continue to need to meet the UK’s food safety requirements, and the independent Trade & Agriculture Commission has concluded neither agreement undermines the UK's domestic protections.
There are robust protections for British farmers in both deals, including staging tariff liberalisation for sensitive goods over time. Protecting the NHS is also a fundamental principle of our trade policy, and these deals deliver on the Government’s commitment to that principle. The NHS, the price it pays for medicines, and its services have remained off the table throughout negotiations.
Both agreements have undergone formal pre-ratification scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The necessary changes to domestic legislation to implement the agreements have also been made – including the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Act which received Royal Assent on the 23 March 2023.
The Department for Business and Trade have produced detailed information for business on how to export to Australia and New Zealand once the agreements come into force. This information can be found here: UK-Australia Free Trade agreement guidance - great.gov.uk and Exporting guide to New Zealand - great.gov.uk - great.gov.uk