Dr Geoff Raby
Head of Trade Policy
Dr Geoff Raby was Head of Trade Policy at Policy Exchange. He is a former Australian Ambassador to China, and to the World Trade Organisation. He has also held the positions of Deputy Secretary in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, First Assistant Secretary to the Trade Negotiations Division, APEC Ambassador, and Head of the OECD Trade Policy Issues Division. Currently Chairman and CEO of Geoff Raby and Associates Ltd, Geoff also holds a number of non-executive, independent director positions with ASX-listed companies, and is on the advisory board of various non-profit organisations. In recognition of his contribution to advancing relations between Australia and China, Geoff was made Friendship Ambassador to Shandong Province, and an honorary citizen of Chengdu City.
Related News
Japan’s PM Shinzō Abe confirms Policy Exchange research
Japan would welcome Britain to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal “with open arms”, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe told the Financial Times. His remarks confirm Policy Exchange’s recent findings in Trading Tigers, which argued that “UK membership would be attractive to Japan in view of the substantial Japanese investment flows to the UK and the addition of a sizeable market.”
Lord Leigh of Hurley commended the “excellent work of Policy Exchange on free trade”
Lord Leigh of Hurley commended the “excellent work of Policy Exchange, and in particular Dr Geoff Raby and his work on free trade” in the House of LordsRelated Publications
Trading Tigers
Brexit offers the opportunity to join free trade deals with fast growing economies like members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – but only if the UK is free to make commitments on both goods and services, argues a new essay by Policy Exchange’s Head of Trade Policy Geoff Raby and Head of Economics Warwick Lightfoot.
Global Champion: The case for unilateral free trade
In a major new study, Policy Exchange argues that as the UK leaves the EU, it should unilaterally abolish all tariffs. This would reduce UK consumers' shopping bills, increase productivity and promote global prosperity. We can also disarm the threat of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit. In the Foreword, Australian High Commissioner to London Alexander Downer said: “Trade is not a zero-sum equation. In the decades ahead all major economies should remove their tariffs and open their markets to competition. As the UK once again takes its place at the WTO it should take the opportunity lead by example and remove its tariffs.”Related Blogs
Customs Union: A soft option with a dead end
Geoff Raby, Policy Exchange’s Head of Trade Policy, welcomes the latest pronouncement of Philip Hammond’s in favour of the UK still leaving the Customs Union — but notes that the Chancellor hinted that there might be a transitional arrangement to remain inside it. Raby points out the potential perils in this stance, not least of which is that transitional arrangements could solidify into permanent ones.