The Adam Smith Institute’s latest paper, by Dr Michael Turner, Head of Research (Director) at C|T Group RSR and a Fellow of the ASI, and Matthew Lesh, Head of Research at the ASI, analyses our new poll on the UK-Australia free trade deal:
Brits say that Australia is the number one priority to increase trade with and a clear majority in both countries want to secure a deal — this is built on the belief that Australia has high standards.
The UK-Australia relationship is driven by deep connections between Brits and Aussies, a mutual interest in living and working across the two nations, and strong consumer demand for products made in each other’s countries
Brits and Aussies are interested in a wide array of benefits from a trade deal, including; recognising qualifications, helping businesses grow to be internationally competitive, creating jobs, giving consumers more choice, and reducing barriers to investment.
While a small, vocal minority, may have raised concerns about farming, a clear majority of Brits believe that British farmers can and should compete globally. Brits want more Australian wine, beef and lamb, and they have a high degree of confidence in Australian farming standards. If the deal does go ahead, Brits want a short transition period and do not consider protecting farmers to be a reason worth blocking the deal.
If push came to shove, most Brits say that they would prefer to trade with Australia over the European Union, and more than four-fifths of voters feel that trade with Australia should be at least as easy as it is with the EU.
Australians prioritise diversifying trade away from China, and a clear majority say that Australia should increase links with like-minded countries like the UK.
United Kingdom Key findings
65% support a free trade deal with Australia, 5% are opposed; there is majority support across all key demographic groups including all nations and English regions, and across the political spectrum.
Two-thirds of Brits (66%) believe Australia has high standards of food safety and animal welfare, just 6% of people believe Australia has low standards
74% believe both countries will benefit from a free trade deal
Australia is the top priority for more trade, with two-thirds (66%) of Brits saying the UK should trade more with Australia; followed by Canada (63%), New Zealand (61%), the United States (48%) and Japan (42%)
91% would feel comfortable being treated by an Australian nurse, 73% believe that nurse should not have to requalify before practicing in the UK
62% believe it should be easier to move between countries, 8% think it shouldn’t be easier
64% believe British farmers should compete on an equal basis with foreign imports of the same standards; 52% believe they should not be denied access to Australian farming goods produced at a lower price
63% would support a trade deal with Australia even if it means that increased competition would reduce profits for British farmers and some might go out of business; just 20% would prefer to block a deal to prevent British farmers having more competition
52% would opt for Australian beef as an alternative to British beef, just 24% would opt for EU beef
84% believe Australia should be able to trade with the UK more easily, or just as easily, than the EU
68% of people think that the transition period on beef and lamb should be 2 years or less
A majority of Brits say they would buy more Australian wine (57%), beef (52%) and lamb (50%) if it were stocked more frequently. There is also interest in purchasing Anzac biscuits (33%), Tim Tams (28%), Kangaroo meat (23%), vegemite (23%) and lamingtons (20%).
Australia Key findings
69% support a free trade deal, 3% are opposed
72% want Australia to be trading more with the UK
73% believe both sides will benefit from a trade deal
73% believe there will be high demand for Australian goods in the UK
77% believe it is essential that Australia trades more freely with its closest allies
Australians are interested in purchasing more British goods if they were stocked more frequently and cheaply, including shortbread (59%), British cheese (53%), jam and marmalade (51%), Cornish pasty (47%), Scottish whisky (45%), Yorkshire tea (41%), gin (36%), Marmite (25%) and Irn Bru (22%)
68% would also consider purchasing a British-manufactured car
67% believe banks should be able to operate in both banks
54% of Australians would prioritize expanding trade with UK, compared to 4% that want to prioritise China and 31% who say both