Business roundtable seeks to boost UK-Australia trade

In the wake of this summer 's historic free trade deal between the UK and Australia, a round table event has been held in Birmingham to boost business relations between the two countries.

The event featured Australia 's High Commissioner to the UK, George Brandis, who met a number of local businesses with links Down Under.

Australia is an important trading partner for the West Midlands, which this year has been the third largest regional exporter to the country, exporting some £335m worth of goods.

That represents 1.8 per cent of all global exports from the West Midlands, a rise from 1.4 per cent in 2020.

Machinery and transport equipment is the largest category of goods exported from the West Midlands to Australia, totalling £259m worth of goods in 2020.

The West Midlands also has the largest regional share of road vehicles exported to Australia, totalling 48 per cent ( £363m) of UK vehicle exports in 2015.

George Brandis has been the Australian High Commissioner since 2018, and was previously a senator in the country 's parliament for 18 years.

He has held several ministerial appointments, including the post of attorney general, where he was responsible for the reform of Australia 's espionage and foreign interference laws.

He also played a leading role in the introduction of marriage equality in Australia in 2017.

The trade deal secured by the UK with Australia - agreed in June after talks between Boris Johnson and Aussie counterpart Scott Morrison - will see the elimination of tariffs on all UK goods.

British products such as cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics will be cheaper to sell into Australia thanks to the deal, the first to be negotiated from scratch following the UK 's departure from the EU.

Chamber international director Mandy Haque said: “We are delighted that the High Commissioner is visiting Birmingham to hear from Midlands ' businesses and listen to how they can support business growth of our members. ”

Pictured: The High Commissioner (left) with Commonwealth Chamber vice president Mark Smith