Australia’s new United Kingdom free trade deal to expand working visas

A new trade deal between Australia and the United Kingdom will expand working holiday visas between the two nations up to the age of 35.

Agreed by Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison, the working holiday visas will allow Australians to work and travel in the United Kingdom (and UK nationals to work and travel in Australia) when international borders reopen.

Signed yesterday, the changes in the new Free Trade Agreement will allow those aged up to 35 to apply for the working visas while a new agriculture visa will also be established for UK visa holders allowing, for example, shearers to move between the two countries more freely.

For the UK, the FTA is its first major international trade deal since if left the European Union.

The agreement will also mean a range of professional qualifications gained in one country will be recognised in the other.

Britain is already Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services valued at $36.6 billion, while Britain is Australia’s second-largest investment partner.

As part of the deal, the Federal Government will scrap tariffs on a range of British goods including whisky, which currently has a tariff of 5%. Tariffs will also be dramatically slashed on pharmaceuticals, cars, machinery and tractors. Britain will also gain greater access to Australian markets for services.