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12.13pm BST

Although the UK has made progress this morning on trade ties in the southern hemisphere (see 10.10am, 11.24am and 12.03pm), relations with its largest trading partner, which is on its doorstep, remain problematic. This morning Mairead McGuinness, the European commissioner for financial services, told an Irish parliamentary meeting that, if the UK takes further unilateral action to undermine the Northern Ireland protocol, the EU will retaliate. She said:

There must be joint endeavour between both sides, but unfortunately from our side there are fundamental gaps in the UK implementation of the [Northern Ireland protocol].

The European Union has the tools to deal with these challenges, like the infringement procedure launched in March, due to the UK breaching its obligations under the protocol, and if the UK were to take further unilateral action over the coming weeks, the EU would react firmly to ensure that the UK abides by its obligations under international law.

12.03pm BST

Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has said that the trade deal with the UK is the most comprehensive and ambitious agreement that Australia has concluded". The only similar one is Australia's deal with New Zealand, he said.

Speaking at No 10, Morrison also that the deal could open the pathway" for the UK's entry into the the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership). He said:

We want to see the UK making the CPTPP even stronger than it is now, it's an outstanding arrangement, it's the most modern multilateral trade agreement in the world today and to have the United Kingdom as part of that strengthens it.