Britain’s high commissioner is open to signing a free trade deal with Canada now that the United Kingdom has opted out of the European Union.
Howard Drake said Britain will go it alone on trade agreements after the Brexit vote, adding the U.K. will not cease to be a trading nation after it pulls out of the EU.
“We’re an island. We’ll be strongly pro-free trade outside the European Union,” he said in an interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio’s The House.
“We’ll be looking to make trade deals with other countries around the world, including Canada. Other countries that are currently outside the EU do have very good trading relationships and trade agreements with other countries, so we can be the same. We have a lot to bring to the party,” he said, noting Britain is the fifth largest economy in the world.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Pierre Poilievre said Friday the Liberal government should “immediately conclude” a trade deal with Britain, but that would be a difficult task given the country remains a member of the EU for the foreseeable future ”” at least two years ”” as it hammers out an exit strategy.
Drake also signalled that the Commonwealth of Nations ”” the organization of 53 mostly former British colonies and territories ”” could play a more robust role in Britain’s foreign policy in a post-Brexit world.
“We have always believed that the Commonwealth has a significant role,” he said. “Canada, the relationship, as we all know, is extraordinarily close. We have a unique relationship between us, given our history.”
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[CBC] U.K. wants free trade deal with Canada, high commissioner says
Britain’s high commissioner is open to signing a free trade deal with Canada now that the United Kingdom has opted out of the European Union.
Howard Drake said Britain will go it alone on trade agreements after the Brexit vote, adding the U.K. will not cease to be a trading nation after it pulls out of the EU.
“We’re an island. We’ll be strongly pro-free trade outside the European Union,” he said in an interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio’s The House.
“We’ll be looking to make trade deals with other countries around the world, including Canada. Other countries that are currently outside the EU do have very good trading relationships and trade agreements with other countries, so we can be the same. We have a lot to bring to the party,” he said, noting Britain is the fifth largest economy in the world.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Pierre Poilievre said Friday the Liberal government should “immediately conclude” a trade deal with Britain, but that would be a difficult task given the country remains a member of the EU for the foreseeable future ”” at least two years ”” as it hammers out an exit strategy.
Drake also signalled that the Commonwealth of Nations ”” the organization of 53 mostly former British colonies and territories ”” could play a more robust role in Britain’s foreign policy in a post-Brexit world.
“We have always believed that the Commonwealth has a significant role,” he said. “Canada, the relationship, as we all know, is extraordinarily close. We have a unique relationship between us, given our history.”
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