Theresa May at G20 summit: PM to tell leaders Brexit deal will boost global economy

Theresa May: Brexit deal will be good for the global economy
AFP/Getty Images
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Theresa May will tell world leaders at the G20 summit that her Brexit deal will be good for the global economy.

The Prime Minister will take the opportunity to voice her determination for the UK to “play a full and active role on trade on the global stage” after Brexit.

Mrs May is joining leaders including US President Donald Trump, who was among the first pictured arriving, and China’s Xi Jinping at the gathering in Argentina.

She will tell fellow leaders: “Our relationship with the EU will remain close. A free trade area, with no tariffs, fees, charges, quantitative restrictions or rules of origin checks, will protect jobs, including those that rely on integrated supply chains.

Donald Trump arrives in Buenos Aires ahead of the G20 leaders summit
REUTERS

“International firms that have invested in UK production or use European bases to supply the UK market will benefit from these arrangements.

"For the first time in more than four decades, the UK will have an independent trade policy.

“We will play a full and active role on trade on the global stage, working with friends new and old, at a time of unprecedented global inter-connectedness."

China's President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan arrive at the Ministro Pistarini international airport in Buenos Aires
AP

It marks a brief respite for Mrs May from bitter wrangling in Westminster over the EU divorce plans she agreed with the bloc

She will become the first serving UK Prime Minister to visit Argentine capital Buenos Aires – where the summit is being held- and only the second to travel to the country following Tony Blair’s trip over the border from Brazil in 2001.

The long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands - still claimed as Las Malvinas by Argentina, 36 years after the 1982 war - is likely to be discussed in a one-on-one meeting with President Mauricio Macri.

This is not thought likely to dominate the talks, though, which will focus on trade.

This week's announcement of a new air link between the islands and Latin America via Argentina has been hailed by Downing Street as a sign of "strengthening" relations, but officials insist there is no change in the UK's stance on sovereignty.

More awkward for Mrs May could be a potential encounter with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after the UK's condemnation of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.

The Saudi Crown Prince could meet Theresa May at the summit
REUTERS

Asked whether Mrs May would be willing to shake the Crown Prince's hand, a senior UK official said the PM believed it was important to "engage" with Saudi Arabia.

They said she would take any opportunity to get across Britain's message on the need for "full accountability and full transparency" over the Khashoggi killing and an end to bloodshed in Yemen.

The two-day G20 gathering marks a brief respite for Mrs May from bitter wrangling in Westminster over the Brexit plan she agreed with EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

European Council president Donald Tusk and Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker will be in Buenos Aires, along with France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but the EU side has made clear there will be no more negotiation on the UK's Withdrawal Agreement.

Mrs May will make clear that once the UK regains its individual seat on the World Trade Organisation next April, it will push for urgent reform of the body to open up digital trade and e-commerce and introduce greater transparency.

The PM will discuss ways to boost trade and investment with President Macri, with the pair expected to agree the appointment of the first UK trade envoy for Argentina.

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