Britain looks to Asean post-Brexit

UK to seek bilateral pacts with regional countries immediately after it leaves EU, says govt minister

UK Minister of State Mark Field says Britain wants stronger ties with Asean in areas like trade and defence.
UK Minister of State Mark Field says Britain wants stronger ties with Asean in areas like trade and defence. ST PHOTO: BENJAMIN SEETOR
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China may have the upperhand in wooing the fast-developing Southeast Asian economies thanks to its size and proximity, but a post-Brexit United Kingdom is equally keen to sink its teeth into regional markets.

While Britain will necessarily have to be less Eurocentric once it leaves the European Union next March, Europe will continue to be an important trading partner even as the UK looks to other markets such as this region, said its Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 09, 2018, with the headline Britain looks to Asean post-Brexit. Subscribe