New Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wants UK to ‘expand its horizons’ and says we have spent too long focusing on trading with Europe

• Foreign Secretary suggested exporters would have to seek out new markets 
• He said: ‘Our trade focus has been on Europe. We need to expand our horizons’
• Mr Raab said there were opportunities to boost the £36billion worth of business the UK does with south-east Asia 

Britain has spent too long focusing on trade with Europe – and must now ‘expand its horizons’ after Brexit, Dominic Raab said yesterday.

Speaking ahead of a trip to south-east Asia, the Foreign Secretary suggested exporters would have to seek out new markets in the wake of the UK’s departure from the EU. 

‘For too long, our trade focus has been on Europe. We need to expand our horizons and raise our game,’ he said.

‘That means grasping the enormous global opportunities for the UK – and my first trip as Foreign Secretary will look to strengthen our friendships across Asia.’ 

The Foreign Secretary suggested exporters would have to seek out new markets in the wake of the UK’s departure from the EU

Mr Raab said there were opportunities to boost the £36billion worth of business the UK does with south-east Asia. 

The figure dwarfs the value of Britain’s trade with Europe.

His comments came as International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said striking a post-Brexit deal with the US would be her ‘number one priority’.

Speaking after talks in London with US Ambassador Woody Johnson, she said deals are being ‘fast-tracked’ that could produce ‘golden opportunities’ for the economy. 

Miss Truss is expected to visit the US in the coming weeks, but no agreement can be negotiated until the UK has left the EU.

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