UK High Commissioner claims tilt to Indo-Pacific is crucial to post-Brexit Britain

Speaking to a House of Representative committee looking into expanding the The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell argued the UK's accession to the multilateral trade deal would result in Australia having a "firm friend and ally".

Ms Treadell noted the UK is seeking to pivot to greater ties within the Indo-Pacific, which she said would become the "economic powerhouse" of the globe.

Previous economic reports from the UK have argued the economic importance of the UK to join the CPTPP.

"In that [report] was our Indo-Pacific tilt, which is our engagement with this vital region which will be the economic powerhouse, but [also its] geopolitical and strategically importance," Ms Treadell said.

The delegates from the British Government are turning to Australia in a bid to assist its approval to the CPTPP, following its departure from the European Union.

The UK government claims the CPTPP is better multilateral trade deal than EU, as countries had better ability to set trade standards on products, rather than being forced to adopt harmonisation standards set by the European single market.

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"One of the reasons we left the EU is to regain our sovereignty and our competence in trade policy and this is what we are exercising now," Ms Treadell.

"We have to build a new network of trade arrangements with the rest of the world rather than do it through the EU."

The UK high commissioner flagged part of that strategy is to join existing arrangements, where countries want to trade on rules-based system.

"Its were a group of nations agree a common frame work on set of rules, which gives us greater transparency about we trade and holds us all to account," Ms Treadell said.

"We have seen some nations not follow the rules and that has made it very difficult for all of us."

The major Atlantic economy also flagged further removal of trade barriers through the CPTPP and a free trade agreement between Australia and the UK, would help Australian exporters shift product to the British market.

Ms Treadell noted British consumers would be able to get fresh mangoes in the middle of a northern hemisphere winter and other types of exotic fruits.

China has also expressed indication of joining the CPTPP, a move which former Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned would erode the democratic fabric of the multinational arrangement and hinder the rules based system in place.

Mr Abbott has also vouched for the UK to join the CPTPP, claiming it could spur the United States in reconsidering its membership.

When questioned by the committee and its stance on China wanting to join the CPTPP, Ms Treadell said it would be inappropriate to comment while the UK is not an official member.

"As a non-member we are not commenting on the specifics on another economy's interests," she said.

"It is not appropriate to do so until we are a member.

"We will always find the best arrangements with countries we trade with."

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