UK has not ruled out post-Brexit EU food trade deal, says Jonathan Reynolds
The UK has left open the possibility of complying with EU food and agricultural products rules in order to restore frictionless access to European markets, the UK Trade Secretary said.
Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC that such a deal – which would lower all trade barriers in exchange for reflecting EU rules and standards – would not cross the government’s red lines.
His comment is on EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told the BBC A new agreement, including so-called dynamic adjustment of standards, is possible alongside other areas of pan-European customs cooperation.
Reynolds met Sefcovic at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
He said he was grateful for the “incredibly positive” and “helpful” comments from his EU counterparts. Reynolds added that Sefcovic’s tone was consistent with what the government has already said about a “dual-track strategy” for trade.
Reynolds said: “We can improve trading conditions with the EU without revisiting the customs union, single market or Brexit arguments, and we can do that while pursuing closer trading links around the world. “
Labour’s manifesto at last year’s UK general election pledged to reduce Brexit-related barriers and red tape for exporting food and agricultural products to the EU.
The question has always been how deep such an agreement might go. Although a clear decision has not yet been made, the issue may be resolved in the coming weeks.
The EU told the BBC on Thursday it would be possible to completely remove barriers to the industry if the UK followed relevant EU rules and standards as they change, a process known as “dynamic adjustment”.
Reynolds told the BBC in an interview in Davos that neither of the two ideas proposed by Sefcovic – a fully-fledged veterinary protocol with dynamic adjustments – and a pan-European customs plan broke the government’s red lines.
superior Pan-European Mediterranean Convention He said it did not cross a red line because “it is not a customs union”.
Asked whether the “dynamically adjusted full-fat veterinary protocol” crossed a red line, he said: “No, it’s part of our manifesto, the SPS protocol, the veterinary protocol.”
The Conservatives expressed anger at reports of a potential new trade deal between the UK and the EU, with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel telling MPs the government was “capitulating to the EU”.
“These latest reports that the Government could tether us to the EU are deeply worrying and demonstrate once again that Keir Starmer and his friends are more than happy to put their ideology ahead of our national interests, no matter what. There’s a price to pay,” she said.
But the Liberal Democrats say the government is not doing enough to facilitate smoother trade with the EU.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey told the House of Commons: “It’s time for proper customs arrangements between the UK and the EU so we can strengthen negotiations with Donald Trump and reduce red tape for our businesses and develop the economy.”
Reynolds told the BBC he was preparing the UK’s case to avoid potential US export tariffs after President Donald Trump suggested the world might have to pay trillions of dollars to gain access to the US market.
