The government has laid out the future trade plans it will present to EU negotiators. Its statement starts with the affirmation that it ‘wishes to see a future relationship based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals’ – despite the fact that the EU is not a sovereign body – ‘for the benefit of all our peoples’.
It emphasises: ‘There is complete certainty that at the end of 2020 the process of transition to that relationship will be complete and that the UK will have recovered in full its economic and political independence. The government remains committed in all circumstances to securing all those benefits for the whole of the UK and to strengthening our union.’
But for the rest of this year, the statement questions whether the UK and the EU can agree ‘a deeper trading relationship on the lines of the free trade agreement the EU has with Canada, or whether the relationship will be based simply on the Withdrawal Agreement deal agreed in October 2019’, but reiterates that in either event the UK will definitely be leaving the single market and the customs union at the end of this year.
The statement promises that the government will work hard to achieve an agreement that respects the sovereignty of both parties but adds: ‘It cannot therefore include any regulatory alignment, any jurisdiction for the CJEU over the UK’s laws, or any supranational control in any area.’
Our government calls for a series of agreements covering all trade, fisheries, internal security and other matters, and technical agreements on areas such as aviation and nuclear co-operation. It adds: ‘These should all have governance and dispute settlement arrangements appropriate to a relationship of sovereign equals.’
The UK will develop our own policies in several areas such as immigration, environment and data protection and promises to main high standards in doing so. It says that the government will act on behalf of the whole UK family, including our Crown dependencies and overseas territories.
A free trade agreement, it says, should include no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions and we should be allowed to protect our industry from ‘unfair trading practices’. Regulatory barriers should be ‘addressed’ so that any that are unnecessary are reduced and customs officials should allow ‘smooth trade’ between the UK and the EU.
On services, the statement says this must be an ‘essential component’ of a free trade agreement with minimal barriers, and digital trade should be supported. In some areas, such as services to business and the professions, there could be the possibility of additional commitments.
Residents of both the UK and the EU should be free to undertake business trips across the Channel quite separately from the immigration system and each side should recognise professional qualifications gained in the other’s jurisdiction.
On financial services, any agreement between the UK and the EU should ensure that both sides ‘provide a predictable, transparent, and business-friendly environment for financial services firms’ and it is hoped that this will ensure financial stability and certainty for businesses. This should also provide obligations on market access and fair competition.
The statement adds: ‘Given the depth of the relationship in this area, there should also be enhanced provision for regulatory and supervisory cooperation arrangements with the EU, and for the structured withdrawal of equivalence findings.’
Transport by road through both the EU and the UK should be recognised by both sides and hauliers should have reciprocal rights, written into agreements and commitments. But the UK government warns that it will not agree to measures in these areas which go beyond those typically included in a comprehensive free trade agreement adding: ‘The government believes therefore that both parties should recognise their respective commitments to maintaining high standards in these areas; confirm that they will uphold their international obligations; and agree to avoid using measures in these areas to distort trade.’
Then the statement turns to the fish in the waters around the UK. It states that we will become an independent coastal state at the end of 2020 and as such, any agreement must reflect this reality. It has totally rejected the call by the French president for the bloc to have access to our fisheries for the next 25 years and has offered access to ‘fishing opportunities’ on a yearly basis, negotiated annually.
And it is in the UK’s and EU’s mutual interest to reach a ‘pragmatic agreement’ to provide a framework for law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters it says, although the statement makes it clear that European courts will not hold sway over autonomous matters in the UK.
Other areas of cooperation include air transport and safety and on air traffic management, and the UK is committed to smooth crossings as part of the border system, asking the EU to reciprocate. We are also ready to discuss cooperation on asylum, including family reunion, and illegal migration.
Turning to finance, the statement says we could participate in certain EU programmes, presumably at a cost although this is not mentioned, but only after the bloc has agreed its budget for this decade and as long as we get value for money.
Finally, the statement looks at areas where ‘early progress is a test of the constructive nature of the negotiating process’ – in other words, indicating that both sides are negotiating in good faith. These include trade in live animals and animal products and plant material, on which consensus is expected soon. A nuclear agreement is also on the cards for early settlement ‘given the implications for both sides of not doing so and the clear benefits of co-operation’.
Agreements on minor other matters are also planned.
This statement now needs to be compared to the scenario outlined by Michel Barnier on Monday.
The full statement can be seen here.
|No WA no PD, no ECJ, no ECHR, no Armed Forces, ? WTO GPA ?. no Fish, no EU HS2, no gendarmerie, NO MORE AGREEMENTS.( No matter how cuddly like Australian, or Canada.). Do not start using new phrases. They are another sign of treachery.
Have you ever watched Morris Dancers ? – Lots of noise from the bells on their bodies, and well metered slapping of sticks to one another. – All in the knowledge that without pre understood limits, they could hurt each other ! ….. Well this pantomime with the EU reminds me of having watched a Morris Dance troop ! – Now please understand that I would avoid physical damage to EU negotiators, as it is never clear where that might lead, but I do believe that we need to be rather more forthright and British than we are at present !
Assuming that we know what we want, why would we settle for something that has a minus quantity ? – Then again, why should we bring the family silver to a negotiation ? – The NHS or Fishing waters are well removed from common, mutual trade talks, unless your from the EU, and have yet to grasp that at the end of this year we will be clear of the EUs many controls ! ….. If, as I personally think, we can trade without the EU, then we need some personal belief in that possible fact. – If we are unsure about that, then why do the pantomime of negotiations ?
Mike Maunder says that “at the end of this year we will be clear of the EUs many controls !”….. Well, Boris Johnson forced the misnamed Withdrawal Agreement, that is now in force, through Parliament at Westminster. And that misnamed Withdrawal Agreement will keep Britain firmly under the EU’s control. For instance Article 4 in the WA requires British judges to overturn laws passed by future British Parliaments, if the Court of Justice of the EU interprets them as inconsistent with the Withdrawal Agreement.
And they always told us that it was about trade!
Thanks for the hardwork Debbie.
My concern is for future Britain and my grandchildren etc. There is no sign of any kind, except for gathering rumbles from the Anti British who are starting to flex muscles.
The Civil service has the manpower, the records ( in lieu of experience ) , the wisdom and intelligence to guide, not just our politicians but also our Industries and people, and do it with one or two less hangers on and computers.
I trust the Civil Service has various measures from history and around the world, for Boris to consider
Our system ( Constitution ) can be quick and decisive given the will..
We should then, and will prosper.
We , the population understands the drive for self , But theft ( Corruption ) must stop.
Debbie writes that the European Union is not a sovereign body….Well, judging from the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration now in force the political establishment in Westminster & Whitehall definitely disagrees with her. Whitehall & Westminster clearly regard the EU as a sovereign state, towering over its minor offshore island territory, known as Britain. The WA & PD now in force plainly regard Britain as no more than a province of the EU, that is not allowed any remedy in international law, as a sovereign state would be (see Article 168 in the Withdrawal Agreement). Boris Johnson’s submissive attitude and approach to the EU would be far more suitable if he was speaking for the Isle of Man, rather than for the island of Britain.
Groan, God help us!! Of course we’re not going to get any sort of decent trade deal from the EU, either Boris will stitch us up or we’ll leave without a deal with at best a few concessions and we’ll have wasted 39 billion quid (or was that Euros?).
All this BS about friendly cooperation, if there’s one thing the last three and a half years has taught us, it is that the EU is an enemy rather than a friend. If we needed time for a transition, well, we’ve had three and a half years to prepare, our politicians failed to do this and its cost us 39 billion and probably much more before we’re through.
Forgive me if I take all of this with a pinch of salt, it’s mainly all BS from Boris and the EU, another pantomime.
Flyer…………you are very downbeat about the situation, and up to the point when I read your diatribe I was feeling good about it all. Come on snap out of this self imposed political depression, kit is early days and more importantly we are from the combined grip of Guy Verhofstadt and the European Union. It could be worse, we could still be in the EU going around in ever decreasing circles with Theresa May in charge. Now that was truly depressing…………
blasted fingers…….’free from the combined grip’
Sorry Colin, but Flyer is nearer the mark than your wishfull thinking IMHO. Time will tell no doubt as it always does.
I think that leaving the EU was a huge step forward whatever happens. Didn’t Theresa May start of her premiership with a lot of very tough talk: “leave means leave” and all of that BS.
I think we’d be silly to trust any politician after what we’ve been though, I believe Johnson to be a globalist that although he must have been very pleased to win the election, it didn’t leave him with much choice but to act tough on Brexit.
All I’m saying is that I’ll judge the government on results, I don’t feel like watching all of the twists and turns in the coming eleven months of pantomime; just enough to keep an eye on them. I wouldn’t trust Johnson as far as I could throw him and he’s a fat old slug.
Flyer I totally agree with you. The sh.. will definitely hit the fan.
Indeed, the EU is the enemy and should be treated as such. We would be far better off under a standard WTO arrangement. Anything more and the EU will be allowed to slip in some nasties such as some obedience to the ECJ and the EAW.
Any beneficial cooperation must be negotiated separately after we are truly out and not tied to a trade agreement nor include any financial penalty.