Asia House Brexit Series: The Asian views

The result of the EU referendum not only has significant effects on the British economy but has also caused apprehension among foreign investors and long-standing trading partners. With leaving the EU, the UK will also leave all free trade agreements negotiated under the EU.

News has emerged that UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s new government has already set in motion a number of informal trade talks in preparation for the UK’s formal departure from the EU.

Mrs May spoke with Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week about a possible free trade agreement (FTA). Talks were said to be constructive. The Financial Times reported that: “Downing Street officials said the deals would be ready up to “the point of signing” given that Britain is not meant to formally negotiate trade deals while it is still a member of the EU.”

How will the UK manage its new trade relations with Asia after triggering Article 50? How are Asian nations looking to trade with the UK?

The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the UK, H.E. Dr. Rizal Sukma, Indonesian Ambassador to the UK, and H.E. Evan Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to the UK, will brief Asia House corporate members and selected participants by invitation only on the Asian views on the EU referendum and on potential future trade agreements with the UK.

This is the third event in the Asia House Brexit Series where we are monitoring developments following the EU referendum with a focus on both the UK’s and the EU’s relationship with Asia both economically and politically.

The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Alexander Downer joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and served at the Australian Embassy in Belgium before moving into politics. Elected to the Federal Parliament in 1984 (Liberal member for Mayo in South Australia), he held this seat until his retirement from Parliament in July 2008. He served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 1996 to 2007, making him Australia’s longest-serving Foreign Minister.

H.E. Dr. Rizal Sukma, Indonesian Ambassador to the UK

Before assuming his current post, Dr Rizal Sukma was Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Institute for Peace and Democracy. Since receiving a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1997, he has worked extensively on such issues as Southeast Asian security, ASEAN, Indonesia’s defence and foreign policy, military reform, Islam and politics, and domestic political changes in Indonesia. In the lead up to the 2014 Indonesian general election Dr Sukma served as Foreign Affairs Adviser to President Jokowi and played a significant role in formulating foreign policy.

H.E. Evan P. Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia  is a senior member of the Philippine Foreign Service, having recently served as Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. Prior to this, he was the Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organizations in Geneva. A career diplomat, Ambassador Garcia was previously assigned to the Philippine diplomatic missions in Tokyo and Washington DC. He is a recipient of the Philippines’ Gawad Mabini awards, with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo (Commander) and then Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross) for his substantive contributions in promoting the interests of the Republic of the Philippines at home and abroad.

Attendance at this event is by invitation only and for representatives of Asia House corporate members. For further information, please contact: Melanie Ullrich, Business & Policy Team at melanie.ullrich@asiahouse.co.uk or call 0207 307 5462.

To read reactions in the Asian media to Brexit click here.