Establish free movement & trade agreements with Canada, Australia & New Zealand
- Parliament:
- 2019–24
- Signatures:
- 16,505
- Responded:
- 21 Dec 2020
- Department:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
The petition
As the UK concludes its transition period with the EU, the government should seek new diplomatic arrangements with Canada, Australia & New Zealand (CANZUK), formulating reciprocal migration & trade agreements between these countries to improve work and travel opportunities for citizens.
Canada, Australia, New Zealand & the United Kingdom (CANZUK) are four of the closest and most like-minded nations in the world. Together, we share the same Sovereign, linguistic, cultural & historical ties, and are formidable allies in promoting democracy & human rights across the world. By expanding our relationship to develop free trade & reciprocal living and working rights for our citizens, CANZUK will become an alliance that promotes opportunity & prosperity in the post-Brexit era.
The government's response
The UK is ending free movement for EU citizens (at 11pm 31 December 2020). The government has no plans to seek equivalent arrangements with CANZUK.
On 1 December 2020 the UK’s new Points-Based Immigration System opened for applications for those who want to come to work in the UK from 01 January 2021. This includes applications for the new Skilled Worker route, which will see EU and non-EU citizens treated equally.
The new points-based system, alongside initiatives for scientists, researchers, health and care professional and graduates, will attract the brightest and best talent from across the world and signals Britain is open for business.
The Government has published details in ‘The UK’s points-based immigration system: policy statement’ which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement
The Government shares CANZUK International’s ambition to maximise the UK’s trade and investment relationship with our close friends and allies. Our strategy, however, is to do so through bilateral and regional agreements. Now that we have left the European Union, we are able to negotiate comprehensive free trade deals with other nations and have already begun negotiations for free trade agreements with the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
Whilst we cannot go into detail on live negotiations, it is normal practice to include provisions in FTAs on business mobility as these support highly skilled professionals to provide services on a temporary basis in the other country. High-skilled, business mobility is critical to supporting trade in services, investment and goods.