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FCDO has agreed a new Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership with Australia.

Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss has agreed a new Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership with Australia's Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, to strengthen global technology supply chains, ensure the UK's positive technology vision and tackle malign actors who disrupt cyber-space.

The new agreement includes provisions to build greater resilience to ransomware amongst Indo-Pacific nations and sharpen legal sanctions against cyber attackers. It also promises to help shape a positive technology environment and maintain an internet that is open, free, peaceful and secure.

The partnership will intensify co-operation and delivery around shared opportunities and challenges regarding cyber and critical technology policy through deepened co-operation around four pillars:

• tackling malign actors;
• promoting shared values and positive vision for technology;
• strengthening global technology supply chains; and
• harnessing technology to solve global challenges.

On 16 December 2021, the UK has signed its first post-Brexit free trade agreement with Australia.  You can find out more about what the deal means for the tech sector here. The FTA  also includes the provision on cyber security where both countries commit to strengthen collaboration mechanisms to swiftly address cybersecurity incidents and maintain a dialogue on matters related to cybersecurity, including for the sharing of information and experiences for awareness and best practices.