The EU has leapt ahead of the UK in the pursuit of free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand after member states gave the green light for talks to start within weeks.

The European Union and Japan will launch the world’s largest free trade zone early next year after their economic partnership cleared a final hurdle on Wednesday. Some 70 percent of European Parliament lawmakers backed the agreement that binds two economies accounting for about a third of global gross domestic product and signals their rejection of protectionism.

Prime minister says current system is ‘generous enough’ in a move which could hamper Delhi trade talks

Leo Varadkar says UK 'won't have any trade deals with anyone', citing WTO rules and Good Friday commitments.

UK may face seven-year wait for frictionless trade under WTO rules if it crashes out of EU.

The European Union (EU) and ASEAN have agreed to restart the process of establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between them, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Jul 14).

The European Union and Vietnam have recently finished negotiating a Trade Agreement and an Investment Protection Agreement.

US lobby groups for agriculture and pharmaceutical firms want UK standards changed to be closer to those of the US in a post-Brexit trade deal.

Sir Ivan Rogers, who quit as British ambassador to EU, says UK could be left in legal void if it leaves without deal

UK's former ambassador to EU said any free trade deal with the bloc would have to be ‘the biggest ever’

Competition commissioner sees agreement with Canada as model but says deal with Brexit UK would be different

The agreement reached after years of negotiations is forecast to boost trade by more than £30 billion a year.

Alarm raised after Nissan decision to halt expansion of Sunderland car plant.

Lack of clarity about UK-EU trading relationship after Brexit also holding up progress. / Japan is seeking tougher concessions from Britain in trade talks than it secured from the EU.

Ministers accused of pressure on developing nations to 'sign up blind’ – without knowing if rollover deals will prove to be second-rate.

Liam Fox has agreed deals with only seven of 69 countries covered by EU arrangements.

A FURIOUS Government row has erupted after Gavin Williamson was accused of risking Britain’s chances to access Chinese markets worth billions.

Trade talks will go ahead despite reported dismay at language used by Liam Fox and Jeremy Hunt.

The government has been accused of breaking its promises after it emerged that key trade deals would not be ready by Brexit day in a no-deal scenario.