06.04.2023
Professor Julien Chaisse, an associate member of CCCL, commented on the newly signed agreement between UK and Australia which is intended to aid in securing the necessary minerals to achieve a net-zero future. This move is part of the UK’s larger strategy to diversify global supply chains of critical minerals amidst increasing competition for resources. However, experts suggest that this deal is primarily commercial in nature and will provide economic benefits to both countries while serving mutual self-interest. While some may view this as a political stance against China, trade lawyers and analysts believe that it is more complex than that. According to Julien Chaisse, professor at City University of Hong Kong, the UK must engage with a wider array of trading partners, including non-anglophone countries, to navigate its post-Brexit landscape. The UK is seeking to amplify its global influence while its European influence is diminishing. Chaisse believes that the UK’s recent admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the critical minerals agreement with Australia are both essential components of a larger strategy aimed at diversifying international relationships.
Read the full article here: Su-Lin Tan, After Aukus submarine deal, Australia and UK to extend ties in ‘clear cut’ critical minerals deal, South China Morning Post, April 6, 2023 < https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3216091/after-aukus-submarine-deal-australia-and-uk-extend-ties-clear-cut-critical-minerals-deal >
