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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Australia 'Concerned' about Trade Deal with UK Following Truss Resignation


Fri 21 Oct 2022 | 02:44 PM
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Omnia Ahmed

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed concern over the UK-Australia long-waited trade deal following the resignation of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss.

"I'm concerned about any delay that would occur to the Australia–UK free trade agreement," Albanese told reporters in Perth on Friday.

However, he affirmed that he would continue to boost Australia's relationship with Britain after it gets a third prime minister.

"I had discussed with Prime Minister Truss the fast-tracking of that. We discussed trying to get it concluded before the end of this year, to make sure that the appropriate parliamentary processes went through our respective parliaments."

The deal was set to be one of the first new trade deals signed by the British government in the wake of the UK leaving the EU.

But following political chaos in Westminster, Albanese has sought to emphasize stability in his federal government.

"My government is stable, is orderly. The adults are in charge," he said. "I've been in office for five months. I've met the two British prime ministers, so far, and I obviously will have contact with a third at some time when those issues are concluded." 

Truss resigned after just 45 days in office, marking the shortest tenure in British history.