Britain faces free trade headache after Brexit vote

Britain's desire to become a free trade leader following its vote to leave the European Union (EU) is seen as wishful thinking by experts, who say London's hands are tied until a formal exit from the bloc.

Prime Minister Theresa May used this month's G20 summit in China to explore potential trade deals with Australia, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea.

But international trade experts have been quick to highlight Britain's lack of experience in such negotiations. "Currently, legally speaking, the UK is part of the EU and therefore is not able to conclude free trade agreements," said Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of trade policy think tank, the European Centre for International Political Economy.

"For me, it is more an experience problem because the UK has actually not negotiated" on such matters since 1973 when the country joined the European Union, Lee-Makiyama added.

At stake is Britain's position as a major world economy along with its future economic and employment growth. International trade to and from the country each year totals hundreds of billions of pounds, around half of which is with the European Union.

Brussels and Berlin have lost no time in reminding Britain that while it remains within the EU, trade negotiations on behalf of all member states are the sole responsibility of the European Commission.

May has meanwhile come up against hurdles outside the EU, with US President Barack Obama insisting that Washington's priority remains striking a free trade deal with Brussels, however unlikely, before tackling any separate agreement with London.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Friday insisted at a joint ministerial meeting that "Australia is keen to do a free trade deal" and the two countries would be able to "at least to sketch out a very productive deal," while Britain negotiates its exit from the EU.
Australian counterpart Julie Bishop said that Brexit opened "many opportunities to... read full story

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