ANZ welcomes historic Australia-UK trade deal
ANZ today welcomed the announcement of a free trade agreement between Australia and the UK, noting the deal would help create new opportunities for Australian businesses.
ANZ Group Executive Institutional Mark Whelan said: “ANZ has been a trade bank since our inception and our relationship with the UK is deeply rooted in that important part of our history. This trade agreement will create new opportunities for our customers by eliminating some of the barriers they face moving goods and capital to and from the UK.
“The removal of tariffs over time will give Australian exporters greater access to the UK market and consumers, driving job creation and providing growth prospects in particular for sectors such as tourism, agriculture and professional services,” Mr Whelan said.
ANZ Head of UK & Europe Richard Dawson added: “The UK is a key market for many of our customers. We look forward to continuing to support them as they accelerate their ambitions across the UK and Australian markets.”
The deal is the first major bilateral agreement negotiated by the UK since leaving the EU, and is intended to increase the volume of trade between the two countries above the current £20 billion.
ANZ is headquartered in Melbourne and has had a presence in the UK since 1835.