Australia, Britain reach free trade deal to cut many tariffs

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greets Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison at 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021. Johnson and his Australian counterpart Morrison had reached agreement on a free trade deal during negotiations in London, which will be released later Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greets Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison at 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021. Johnson and his Australian counterpart Morrison had reached agreement on a free trade deal during negotiations in London, which will be released later Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greets Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison at 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steps out 10 Downing Street to greet Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steps out 10 Downing Street to greet Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walkswith Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, poses for a photo with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, foreground, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, reacts as he walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson,centre right, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pose for the media, after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, speaks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacts after his meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, walks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after their meeting, in the garden of 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, poses for a photo with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, ahead of their meeting, at 10 Downing Streeet, in London, Tuesday June 15, 2021. Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade deal that will be released later Tuesday, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.

By DANICA KIRKA and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Britain and Australia announced the broad outlines of a free trade deal Tuesday, eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods as the U.K. seeks to expand links around the world following its exit from the European Union.

The pact is expected to boost exports of traditional British products such as Scotch whisky, while boosting imports of lamb and wine from Australia. Crucially for Britain, it will also reduce barriers to trade in financial and other services. The U.K. hopes the deal will help it join the trans-Pacific trade partnership, which would open the door to increased trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

It is the first trade deal Britain has negotiated from scratch since it left the EU. Earlier deals with countries including Japan and Canada were built on existing agreements struck by the EU.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared outside his Downing Street office with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Tuesday, to highlight the benefits each country would receive from the deal and stress the long ties between the two nations.

“This is an ambitious free trade agreement,” Morrison told reporters. “This is not a standard cookie-cutter agreement. This is an agreement with great ambition for both countries.”

While both leaders were effusive in praising the benefits of the deal, details were limited. The U.K. said a final agreement in principle would be published “in the coming days.”