Prospect of potential post-Brexit trade deals on agenda

Asia House will step up its Brexit Series over the next three months as it continues to advise and inform corporate members, clients and government officials navigating the commercial, political and economic uncertainties in the lead up to the UK leaving the EU.

With the UK Government’s negotiating position and strategy keenly awaited, Asia House will chair briefings with key decision-makers and influencers including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, Mark Garnier; the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade, Sir Martin Donnelly;  former Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, who now heads the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM);  and Inga Beale, the Chief Executive of Lloyd’s.

Central to the briefings will be potential new trade deals. UK attention has already turned to the Asia Pacific region as it shapes policy following the decision to leave the EU.

The Ambassador of Japan to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka, and the New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK, Sir Alexander Lockwood Smith, will brief Asia House members on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as well as other trade agreements in the region and whether they may offer the UK a viable opportunity for a multi-country trade deal.

The City of London’s status as a global financial centre is also high on the agenda with a private briefing with Lloyd’s Chief Executive Inga Beale, which will focus on London’s role in the global insurance market.

For full details on all of these events, click here.

Asia House is uniquely placed to engage companies and officials on policy: particularly on trade and investment. Leveraging its extensive network, Asia House seeks to bring clarity to the complex issues raised by the Brexit decision and elevate views from the private sector in Asia and Europe among UK officials planning the exit from the EU.

The Australian Trade Minister, Steven Ciobo, briefed Asia House corporate members and then delivered a keynote address at Asia House earlier this month – his only public speech while in the UK. He revealed that Australia has already opened informal discussions with the UK about a trade pact.

Another theme Asia House will continue to explore is Asia’s response to the Brexit decision, which has raised questions about whether the UK can remain the gateway to Europe.

Asia’s view on Brexit has already been the subject of an insightful discussion between Australian High Commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer; Indonesian Ambassador to the UK Dr. Rizal Sukma; Philippine Ambassador to the UK Evan Garcia; and corporate members of Asia House.

Other contributors to the Asia House Brexit Series to date include the former European Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson; the leading ‘Remain’ advocate Lord Ashdown;  Special Representative for the City of London Corporation Jeremy Browne; and Professor in European Union Law and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge Catherine Barnard.

For more information on the corporate services offered by Asia House, click here.