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The UK and European Union will discover the distance between their respective ambitions for a trade deal as both sides prepare to reveal their hand.<\/p>\nThe UK and European Union will discover the distance between their respective ambitions for a trade deal as both sides prepare to reveal their hand.<\/p>\n
Boris Johnson, in a speech in London on Monday, is due to announce he would rather collapse the talks and leave without any formal trade agreement if Brussels pushes for the UK to continue following the bloc\u2019s rules after the transition period ends in 2021.<\/p>\n
The British Prime Minister will push for a Canada-style free trade agreement but will warn European leaders that he is content to fallback to \u201cAustralia\u201d type terms \u2013 a move that would see Britain revert to trading on bare bones World Trade Organization (WTO) terms, but with tacked-on side deals to ensure areas such as aviation can continue to run smoothly.<\/p>\n
Critics hit out at the suggestion that Britain could have a relationship akin to Australia with its biggest trading partner, with acting Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey calling it \u201cno deal in all but name\u201d.<\/p>\n
In an indication of the gulf between Downing Street and Le Berlaymont chiefs, the EU is expected to argue that the UK should be treated differently to past free trade partners due to the threat it poses to the single market.<\/p>\n
According to a leak seen by the Telegraph, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier will demand that Britain signs-up to Brussels benchmarks on standards because of its \u201cgeographic proximity and economic interdependence\u201d, as well as the threat of \u201cunfair competition by undercutting\u201d.<\/p>\n
It is expected to demand access to UK fishing waters \u2013 a red line for Brexiteers \u2013 and potentially include a proposal, first mooted in the Observer, to back Spain\u2019s claim to Gibraltar by giving Madrid powers to exclude the overseas territory from any trade deal.<\/p>\n
But Mr Johnson looks set to slap down any suggestion that Britain will make concessions in order to ratify a free trade pact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policy, subsidies, social protection, the environment, or anything similar, any more than the EU should be obliged to accept UK rules,\u201d he is expected to say in his speech laying out his post-Brexit vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK will maintain the highest standards in these areas \u2013 better, in many respects, than those of the EU \u2013 without the compulsion of a treaty and it is vital to stress this now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson will tell an audience of business figures and global ambassadors that the Government has \u201cmade our choice\u201d in wanting to set its own rules and regulations after December 31.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson favors a deal akin to Canada\u2019s, despite Treasury analysis suggesting it would make Britain\u2019s economy 4.9% worse off by 2035.<\/p>\n
When Ottowa signed the agreement with the EU, it abolished 98% of all duties and opened up fresh investment opportunities in the transport and financial services sectors for European firms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want a free trade agreement, similar to Canada\u2019s but, in the very unlikely event that we do not succeed, then our trade will have to be based on our existing Withdrawal Agreement with the EU,\u201d the PM is due to say.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe choice is emphatically not \u2018deal or no deal\u2019. The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada\u2019s \u2013 or more like Australia\u2019s. In either case, I have no doubt that Britain will prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n
The UK, upon its departure from the bloc last week, entered an 11-month transition period in which it has no representation in Brussels but continues to follow EU rules while it works to agree a new relationship with the remaining 27 member states.<\/p>\n
Trade talks between the two sides will commence in March, with decisions expected on financial services and fishing as soon as June.<\/p>\n