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No free trade deal until Brexit settled, says Australian minister

The European Commission is reportedly considering introducing a visa programme for the Schengen zone, which is made up of 26 European countries and is passport-free.

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Speaking earlier this month at a summit of world leaders, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the U.K.is still open for business following the Brexit vote and is looking to establish new trade relations around the globe. “But I’m going to make sure that what we do get is in the best interests of the United Kingdom”.

“I would expect, due to the control that we would have over movement of people, we would use it in a sensible way that would certainly facilitate the movement of highly skilled people between financial institutions and businesses in order to support investment in the United Kingdom economy – that would certainly be my expectation”, the Chancellor said.

Ms Rudd admitted British people would be “surprised” to learn the free-and-easy travel to the European Union they have enjoyed for decades was now in peril. Such a move would “not be particularly desirable, but we don’t rule it out because we have to be allowed a free hand to get the best negotiation”, she said.

“Whether we look at a work permit system or another system is something that my department is looking at closely at the moment”, she said.

Ms Rudd also explained the Government’s decision to ditch an Australian-style points system for border control.

Ms Rudd, one of the leading voices in the Remain campaign ahead of the referendum, played down her attacks on Leave campaigner Boris Johnson, who is now foreign secretary. “Theresa May is the driver, and the rest of us are in the vehicle”. Ministers should not just accept there’s a cost of £50 for the average family to go on holiday.

He said such an Ecofin should prepare the European Council, comprised of the heads of government of the European Union, for its negotiating position with Britain in three scenarios: Britain paying the same amount into the EU budget as before, a smaller amount or nothing at all.

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Andersson also said she was anxious about signals that Britain could launch new aggressive tax policies to smooth economic bumps, such as lower corporate taxes suggested by former finance minister George Osborne, which she said would make other European Union members reluctant over a deal.

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