CANZUK Integration
A Roadmap to Free Trade and Freedom of Movement
For Reference of: Great British Political Action Committee
Date: March 2025
Executive Summary
The CANZUK initiative proposes a comprehensive framework for deeper economic, political, and social integration between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Rooted in shared historical ties, legal traditions, and democratic values, this vision seeks to establish a robust alliance through free trade, unrestricted mobility, coordinated regulatory standards, and enhanced security cooperation. The departure of the UK from the European Union has further underscored the need for alternative regional partnerships, making CANZUK a timely and strategic opportunity.
Building upon successful models such as the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (TTTA) and the Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER), CANZUK advocates for expanding these agreements to enable citizens to live, work, and study freely across all four nations, subject to health and security checks. Additionally, the proposal envisions the creation of a multilateral free trade zone to eliminate tariffs, reduce non-tariff barriers, and harmonise regulatory standards, fostering economic growth and investment. Unlike the legislation surrounding the EU, CANZUK does not seek to stop or hinder trade between countries within the bloc and third-party countries, ensuring that each nation maintains the ability to engage in independent trade agreements.
The economic potential of CANZUK is significant, with a combined GDP of approximately $6.5 trillion and total trade valued at around $3.5 trillion. By addressing labour shortages through enhanced mobility agreements and fostering deeper trade relations, the partnership could unlock substantial economic benefits. Furthermore, strengthening geopolitical ties through coordinated intelligence and defence cooperation—building on existing alliances such as the Five Eyes—would enhance global influence and security.
Despite existing trade and security collaborations, barriers to economic integration and labour mobility remain. Non-tariff trade restrictions, misaligned regulatory frameworks, and restrictive immigration policies limit the ability of businesses and skilled professionals to operate efficiently across borders. A unified CANZUK framework would streamline these processes, enhancing workforce mobility, reducing economic inefficiencies, and improving overall competitiveness.
Public support for CANZUK is strong, with opinion polling indicating high favourability across all four nations: 76% in Canada, 73% in Australia, 82% in New Zealand, and 68% in the United Kingdom. Opposition remains relatively low, with figures of 14%, 17%, 10%, and 19%, respectively. Advocacy groups such as CANZUK International and the UK’s Conservative Friends of CANZUK have further reinforced the case for deeper integration. By implementing a phased, structured roadmap focused on trade liberalisation, freedom of movement, security cooperation, and institutional governance, this initiative presents a pragmatic and politically viable path toward a stronger, more resilient alliance.
This policy idea provides a policy framework to guide the implementation of CANZUK integration, ensuring that economic and mobility reforms are enacted in a balanced, mutually beneficial manner while safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining rigorous security standards.
Introduction
The CANZUK initiative proposes a closer association between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, encompassing facilitated migration, free trade, and coordinated foreign policy. Recent global events, such as the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, have highlighted the potential of CANZUK as a timely and strategic opportunity for these nations to forge stronger bonds. This initiative is founded upon a long list of crossovers, including their shared language, culture, kinship, legal system, parliamentary systems, the same Head of State, and a respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, alongside similar socio-economic circumstances.
The proponents of CANZUK envision a framework that includes facilitated migration, granting citizens the freedom to live and work in each other’s countries without the requirement of visas or work permits, drawing inspiration from the existing Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (TTTA) [1] between Australia and New Zealand. This freedom of movement would be based on meeting specific character, health, and security requirements, similar to the provisions of the TTTA. The initiative also proposes the establishment of a multilateral free trade agreement, potentially by expanding the Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER) [2] between Australia and New Zealand to include Canada and the United Kingdom. This expansion would aim for the removal of customs duties and other barriers to commerce. Furthermore, CANZUK aims for enhanced foreign policy cooperation on matters including judicial, defence, intelligence, and constitutional matters, building upon existing collaborations like the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence agreement [3].
By building upon the TTTA and potentially expanding the CER, CANZUK could leverage a combined GDP of $6.5 trillion, only surpassed by the United States and China, and a combined trade value of $3.5 trillion, positioning it as a significant global economic force. This has the potential to foster economic growth, provide access to a wider pool of skilled labour to address shortages, and strengthen the geopolitical influence of these four nations in the international arena. The implementation of this vision would require careful consideration of policy measures to ensure a pragmatic and balanced approach that maximises collective prosperity while safeguarding national interests. Public opinion polling has indicated strong support for closer ties between the CANZUK nations, with favourability ranging from 68% in the United Kingdom to 82% in New Zealand.
Problem Statement
Despite deep historical ties, shared legal systems, and strong economic relationships, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom face unnecessary barriers to trade, labour mobility, and cooperation. These barriers hinder economic growth, limit opportunities for skilled workers, and reduce the collective geopolitical influence of these four nations. While each country benefits from existing trade agreements, such as the UK’s free trade agreements with Canada and Australia, there is no unified CANZUK-specific trade framework. Non-tariff barriers, regulatory misalignment, and differing certification requirements continue to create inefficiencies, slowing economic integration and investment.
Restrictive immigration and mobility policies further complicate cooperation between these nations. Despite sharing a common language, legal traditions, and cultural affinities, citizens of CANZUK countries still face visa restrictions, work permit requirements, and lengthy residency processes. Skilled professionals frequently encounter difficulties in transferring their credentials, delaying their ability to contribute to local labour markets. This lack of streamlined mobility results in missed economic and workforce opportunities. Labor shortages in critical industries such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades could be addressed through greater labour mobility, benefiting businesses and workers alike. Given the combined GDP of CANZUK nations, estimated at over £5 trillion, greater economic collaboration would enhance prosperity across all four countries.
Beyond economic factors, there are significant geopolitical and security considerations. CANZUK nations already share intelligence and defence commitments, such as the Five Eyes alliance and AUKUS, but they lack a coordinated economic and migration strategy. Strengthening trade and mobility ties would not only benefit domestic economies but also increase their collective leverage in global trade negotiations. A stronger CANZUK bloc would be better positioned to navigate international economic shifts, safeguard shared security interests, and reinforce democratic values on the global stage.
The current moment presents a unique opportunity to advance CANZUK integration. The UK’s post-Brexit realignment has created a renewed focus on independent trade relationships, and recent free trade agreements demonstrate the political will to deepen economic cooperation. As global economic conditions continue to evolve, strengthening partnerships within CANZUK would provide stability, growth, and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world. To achieve these goals, a transition from fragmented bilateral agreements to a comprehensive economic and mobility partnership is essential. This policy idea outlines a practical roadmap for achieving this vision while maintaining sovereign governance, national security, and economic stability.
Policy Framework for CANZUK Integration
This policy framework outlines the essential steps required to implement a CANZUK economic and mobility partnership. It is structured around four key pillars: Free Trade, Freedom of Movement, Security and Border Cooperation, and Institutional Governance. Each pillar addresses a critical component necessary for successful integration while ensuring national sovereignty, economic prosperity, and geopolitical stability.
1. Free Trade Agreement and Economic Integration
A comprehensive CANZUK Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) should be established to eliminate trade barriers, harmonise regulations, and promote economic growth. This agreement would ensure duty-free trade between CANZUK nations, removing tariffs and quotas that increase costs for businesses and consumers. Aligning regulatory standards, particularly in product certification, health and safety requirements, and professional accreditation, would facilitate seamless cross-border commerce. A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) should be introduced to allow professionals such as doctors, engineers, and lawyers to have their qualifications recognised across CANZUK nations without the need for additional certification processes.
Investment and business growth would be key areas of focus within the trade framework. A CANZUK-wide investment protocol would streamline cross-border capital flows, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and enhance investor protections. Additionally, a unified startup visa and business funding initiatives could encourage entrepreneurship and innovation across all four countries. Given the rapid growth of the digital economy, a dedicated digital trade agreement should be established to support cross-border e-commerce, fintech collaboration, and the seamless exchange of data while ensuring high levels of cybersecurity and consumer protection.
2. Freedom of Movement and Visa Liberalisation
To complement economic integration, a CANZUK Mobility Agreement (CMA) should be implemented, allowing citizens to live, work, and study freely across all four nations. This would build upon the successful Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (TTTA) between Australia and New Zealand, which enables unrestricted mobility between the two countries. Establishing a common travel area for CANZUK citizens would eliminate visa requirements for short-term visits while also streamlining work and residency rights.
A key aspect of this agreement would be mutual residency recognition, allowing individuals who hold permanent residency in one CANZUK country to transfer their status to another without undergoing an entirely new immigration process. A structured pathway to citizenship should also be developed, ensuring that CANZUK citizens can apply for nationality in another member country without excessive bureaucratic hurdles. However, access to welfare benefits would remain under national control, ensuring that residency in a new CANZUK country does not automatically grant entitlement to social security programmes.
Labour mobility would be a central component of this framework, particularly in addressing workforce shortages. Targeted migration programmes could be introduced to meet labour demands in critical sectors such as healthcare, technology, and construction. Additionally, professional credential recognition agreements should be established to ensure that skilled workers can transition between CANZUK nations without unnecessary regulatory delays. This system would encourage labour mobility while ensuring that economic participation remains the primary motivation for migration within the bloc.
3. Security and Border Cooperation
Ensuring that economic and mobility integration does not compromise national security is essential. A CANZUK Border and Security Partnership (CBSP) should be developed to enhance security coordination while preserving each country’s ability to manage its borders. Shared biometric screening and criminal record checks would allow member states to efficiently monitor individuals moving between CANZUK nations while preventing illegal migration and security threats. A joint visa and travel security strategy should also be developed to manage entry requirements for non-CANZUK nationals, ensuring that the integrity of the mobility agreement is maintained.
Beyond border security, intelligence and defence collaboration would be further strengthened. Given that CANZUK countries are already members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and participate in agreements such as AUKUS, closer coordination on border security and law enforcement would be a natural extension of existing partnerships. A joint emergency response framework should also be introduced, enabling rapid deployment teams to address shared threats such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, and pandemics.
4. Institutional Governance and Implementation
To oversee the implementation and ongoing management of CANZUK integration, a CANZUK Secretariat could be established. This intergovernmental body would be responsible for coordinating trade policies, overseeing mobility agreements, and ensuring compliance with security measures. An annual ministerial summit should be introduced to allow CANZUK leaders to refine policies and address emerging challenges.
A dispute resolution mechanism would be essential to the success of this framework. A CANZUK Trade and Mobility Tribunal should be established to handle disputes related to trade policies, work visas, and professional qualifications. Additionally, an ombudsman for citizens’ rights should be created to ensure that individuals can raise concerns regarding their mobility rights, work permits, or residency applications.
Public engagement and political cooperation would be critical in securing democratic legitimacy for CANZUK integration. National referendums or parliamentary votes should be considered to ensure that the agreement has widespread public support. A dedicated public awareness campaign should also be launched to educate citizens on the benefits of CANZUK integration, dispelling misconceptions and highlighting the economic and social advantages of closer cooperation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the CANZUK Integration framework offers a forward-looking blueprint for transforming the economic, social, and security landscapes of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. By building on successful models such as the TTTA and CER, this roadmap overcomes entrenched barriers to trade and mobility while enabling each nation to maintain independent third-party trade relationships, a distinct departure from the restrictive nature of EU legislation. The proposed reforms, grounded in strong public support and a commitment to shared democratic values, are designed to unlock substantial economic growth, address critical labour shortages, and enhance collective geopolitical influence. Ultimately, this policy idea charts a pragmatic and balanced path toward a more resilient and integrated alliance, ensuring that the benefits of deeper cooperation are realised without compromising national sovereignty or security.
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