Britain’s new Trade Minister Liz Truss said that striking a trade deal with New Zealand would be a priority for the UK after Brexit.
Political turmoil in the United Kingdom has generated uncertainty over its withdrawal from the European Union and left the future of the country’s trade ties in doubt. London has been working to minimize the impact of Brexit on other trading partners.
Truss, appointed earlier this year by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, arrived in New Zealand for talks with her counterpart David Parker on Monday, as part of a three-nation tour, which includes Australia and Japan, aimed at preparing for trade negotiations after Brexit.
The UK is one of New Zealand’s largest trading partners and British investors are the fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the country. Two-way trade between New Zealand and the UK is at about NZ $6 billion ($3.83 billion).