New trade deals with both Australia and New Zealand will kick into gear by the end of the month.

These new deals will lower tariffs, make custom procedures simpler and allow for more freedom of movement for labour. They will also provide for stronger market access for Yorkshire and the UK’s first-class services sector. The official go live date is May 31.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

“It is good news to hear that the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand will finally come into force at the end of the month.

“But the success of any free trade agreement comes down to whether businesses use it, so it’s vital the Government shouts from the rooftops about these new opportunities.

“A recent BCC survey also found almost a quarter of firms (23%) said finding a business partner or distributor overseas would encourage them to either start exporting or export more.

“We have strong Chambers in both Australia and New Zealand and will be working with them to get the most out of these trade deals for all our economies.”