Joe Biden: Expert discusses relationship with UK and Brexit

Now free from the EU’s control, Tory peer Lord Dolar Popat has identified Africa as the next key area for the UK to build trade ties and kickstart Mr Johnson’s post-Brexit plans. Due to the fast-growing population of the continent, the collective GDP of the continent is worth nearly £5trillion. Next year the Africa Free Trade Agreement will come into force and will provide a market worth £2trillion, offering a vital opportunity for the UK to build its trade portfolio, the Tory peer argued. 

Amid these incredible opportunities for the Prime Minister’s post-Brexit plans, Lord Popat insisted: “It is not too late to harness Africa’s abundant opportunities.”

Writing for Politics Home, he added: “I urge policymakers to consider a free trade agreement with the continent.

“The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement is coming into force next year, creating the largest free trade area in the world by number of countries, with a market size of over £2trillion.

“This is the perfect opportunity for a one-stop shop FTA with the whole African continent to open up African markets which currently seem to be out of reach for many UK businesses.

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“We are devoting the rest of our days to ensuring the UK harnesses Africa’s potential. 

“In the next few decades, it is my sincere hope that we return to being Africa’s most important partner of choice.”

As of 2019, Africa accounted for 2.4 percent of the UK’s total trade. 

However, in order to boost those trade figures Mr Johnson established the UK-Africa Investment Summit last year and has expanded the Trade Envoy programme to cover more African countries. 

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Tory peer, Lord Dolar Popat, has urged the Prime Minister to increase trade ties with the continent which is expected to house a quarter of the world’s population by 2050.

Next year, The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement will come into force and will create a market worth £2trillion. 

With the UK free from the EU’s shackles, the Tory peer has urged Mr Johnson to create greater ties with the continent to kickstart Britain’s post-Brexit future. 

Writing for Politics Home, he said: “I urge policymakers to consider a free trade agreement with the continent.

“The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement is coming into force next year, creating the largest free trade area in the world by number of countries, with a market size of over £2trillion.

“This is the perfect opportunity for a one-stop shop FTA with the whole African continent to open up African markets which currently seem to be out of reach for many UK businesses.

“We are devoting the rest of our days to ensuring the UK harnesses Africa’s potential.

“In the next few decades, it is my sincere hope that we return to being Africa’s most important partner of choice.”

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