“We are building up the necessary expertise to go after these trade deals and here in China, I will be seizing the opportunity to talk to leaders from countries like Australia who have already made clear that they want to strike a deal once we have left the European Union”.
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Britain’s economy will suffer as a result of the decision despite signs in recent data that the impact has not been as severe as some predicted, Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday on her way to the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
“The Prime Minister will warn that while more people are feeling left behind by globalization, “the answer can not be to retreat, turn to protectionism or abandon free trade”, said the official.
She is also expected to have a brief discussion with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, whose government has produced a series of demands aimed at protecting the country’s firms operating in the United Kingdom from Brexit.
“Britain’s made a very momentous and historic choice to leave the European Union”, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said as he met his new British counterpart Theresa May by Hangzhou’s picturesque West Lake.
“Here in China I will be seizing the opportunity to talk to leaders from countries like Australia, who have already made clear that they want to strike a deal once we have left the European Union”, she said.
“Australia is determined to provide Britain with all the support and assistance that we can”. In fact, we want to be even more outward-looking around the whole of the world.
“We have already been engaged in discussions with you about what the free trade agreements may look like… They haven’t had to negotiate a trade agreement for over 40 years because they have been part of the European system”.
Mrs May’s meeting with President Xi will come after the summit has formally closed.
The Prime Minister said the delay was down to “the way I operate” because she wanted a fresh look at the evidence for the power plant.
“While I recognise there will be some differences between us, there are some complex and serious areas of concern and issues to discuss, I hope we will be able to have a frank and open relationship”, she said.
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It was the first of several meetings Mr Turnbull will hold with world leaders – later today he is expected to meet with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
