G7 summit: Boris Johnson in charm offensive as he holds talks with leaders to position UK for post-Brexit world

Boris Johnson looks on after a bilateral meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
AFP/Getty Images
Stephanie Cockroft26 August 2019

Boris Johnson has used the closing stages of the G7 summit to hold a series of talks with world leaders as he seeks to position Britain for a post-Brexit world.

The Prime Minister discussed boosting trade links with the leaders of Japan, Australia and Egypt on the final day of his first international summit.

After meeting his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, Mr Johnson said it was "fantastic" to talk to the leader, who "seemed in very high spirits" despite England's stunning Ashes cricket victory.

A Downing Street spokesman said the pair "discussed their enthusiasm for an enhanced and deep trading relationship once the UK leaves the EU".

"The Prime Minister set out the increase in the UK's diplomatic presence in the Pacific, which Prime Minister Morrison welcomed," the spokesman said.

Boris Johnson at the G7 summit
PA

"The two leaders were concerned about the current situation in Hong Kong and agreed that it was paramount for all sides to remain calm and peaceful, and to maintain Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy as guaranteed by the legally-binding Joint Declaration."

Mr Morrison later suggested a trade deal with the UK could be done within a year.

“You’ve just got to get round the table and work it through,” he said. “I’m not going to create any arbitrary deadlines on this.”

He suggested a move to “lock in what we can lock in and get that moving, and I think that will create momentum for the UK for arrangements with Australia and others to be concluded quickly”.

“But, at the end of the day, it’s got to be in our interests. We are not going to sign up to something we don’t think helps us and neither will they.”

Pushed on whether it could be done in a year, he said: “I would hope so.”

Mr Johnson with other world leaders
PA

Mr Johnson also indicated he would like to make an official visit to Japan as he met the country's prime minister Shinzo Abe at the G7.

At the start of talks with Mr Abe, the Prime Minister said: "As soon as we've got Brexit done, which will be on Oct 31, as I never tire of telling people in the UK, I want to make sure that we come to Japan.

"If that would be something you would welcome.

Following the meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said: "Both leaders agreed on the importance of the UK-Japan relationship and the need to further strengthen this, particularly in the area of security cooperation.

"They confirmed their commitment to free trade and shared values.

"The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Abe committed to pursuing an ambitious free trade agreement, building on the existing EU-Japan economic partnership agreement."

Boris Johnson meets Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister
EPA

Mr Johnson’s meeting with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi focused on their “shared desire to strengthen economic, trade and security cooperation”, Number 10 said.

The Prime Minister was also meeting outgoing Italian premier Giuseppe Conte on Monday.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
AP

Donald Trump’s chair was conspicuously empty at the start of the session. He is a climate change sceptic who once had claimed it is a hoax that was invented by the Chinese.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed what she described as a "big step forward" on Iran at the summit.

G7 leaders held what Merkel describes as a constructive discussion on Iran on Saturday night, which was followed by a surprise visit Sunday by Iran's foreign minister for discussions with the French hosts.

Ms Merkel said: "It is a big step forward that we not only don't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but we also (want to) achieve the solution by political means."

Boris Johnson walks through the Bellevue hotel during the G7 summit in Biarritz
PA

Ms Merkel was pressed on what progress she saw exactly and on whether US President Donald Trump was prepared to accommodate any move towards alleviating sanctions against Iran.

She replied: "I can't say that at the moment. There is an atmosphere here in which talks are welcomed, in which talks between the Europeans and Iran and particularly France and Iran are welcomed - this is happening in coordination with the United States of America, and that is already a lot."

Meanwhile, officials were forced to defend Mr Johnson today in a row about pork pies.

Mr Johnson had said that Melton Mowbray pork pies were sold in Thailand and Iceland, as he called for an easing of US trade restrictions on UK products.

But the chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that they "don't actually export to Thailand or to Iceland."

UK officials later pointed to the example of Walker and Son, a founding member of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association.

Asked if the company sells pies in both Thailand and Iceland, a senior British official said: "It certainly has done so."

Challenged about Mr O'Callaghan's comments, an official said: "He states that it's his knowledge that he is not aware of this fact. He is the chair of an association. I will give you a company that is actually saying that they export them to Thailand and Iceland."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in