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EU ready to offer Britain 'unique' deal

By JULIAN SHEA in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-02-13 10:12

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the European Parliament during a debate on ton the EU's multi-annual financial framework in Strasbourg, France, Feb 12, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the European Union is willing to offer the United Kingdom "something we've never offered before" in terms of a trade agreement, as the time for negotiating a post-Brexit deal moves closer-but it will be subject to the UK agreeing to demands from the EU as well.

Britain ceased to be a member of the EU at the end of January, but is currently in an 11-month transition period lasting until the end of the year, during which time the two sides hope to formalize terms for their future trading relationship.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said that the EU was willing to offer "a new model of trade, unique access …but of course this requires corresponding guarantees on fair competition and social, environmental and consumer standards", and adding that all trade deals with "not only with rights, but with obligations from both sides".

"We will enter these negotiations with the highest ambition because good old friends like the UK and us shouldn't settle for less," she said.

However, any hope that Britain's crucial financial services sector could be given preferential treatment has been snuffed out by the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, who warned that the UK should have "no illusions on this issue; there will be no general, global or permanent equivalence on financial services".

The suggestion from the EU comes after senior Cabinet official Michael Gove told British businesses that the reintroduction of border checks for "almost everybody" who imports goods from the EU would be "inevitable" from next year.

He confirmed that food and goods of animal origin will be subject to checks, with any imported items requiring customs declarations and mandatory safety and security certificates.

"You have to accept we will need some friction, he told delegates at a London meeting entitled Preparing Our Border for the Future Relationship.

"We will minimize it but it is an inevitability of our departure. I don't underestimate the fact that this is a significant change, but we have time now to make that change."

The Guardian newspaper reported that Gove had also told delegates to be ready for such new arrangements to apply as soon as the transition period ended, however negotiations may turn out, and that it could take five years for online smart border arrangements to be ready, replacing physical ones.

"In questions and answers his officials talked of an 'operational border' from the beginning of 2021, which they said was laying the foundation for best borders in 2025," one delegate was quoted as saying.

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