Liz Truss has claimed that a trade deal with Vietnam and Singapore is “further proof” that Britain can “succeed” after Brexit.
London and Hanoi are expected to sign a rollover agreement at the end of the week, the Vietnamese ministry said in a statement.
International trade secretary Truss said the deal will eliminate tariffs on machinery and pharmaceutical products.
It comes as Truss also signed an agreement with Singapore in a move the government says will deepen relationships with the Indo-Pacific region and “deliver vital certainty” for UK business.
She said the agreement, which largely mirrors the agreement the country has with the EU, is “further proof we can succeed as an independent trading nation”.
She commented: “Both these agreements are vital for the UK’s future as an independent trading nation. Not only do they lock in billions of pounds worth of trade, they also pave the way for new digital partnerships and joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“This will play to the UK’s strengths, as we become a hub for tech and digital trade with influence far beyond our shores, defining our role in the world for decades to come. ”