CONVENIENT: EU to strike a free trade deal with the UK, says MP
EUROPE is destined to strike a free trade deal with Britain because that would be in its own interests, a Cabinet minister insisted yesterday.
Chris Grayling said that the foundering of an EU deal with Canada was not a bad omen for the UK
Pro-Brexit Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said Friday’s foundering of a long-awaited European Union deal with Canada was not a bad omen for the UK and a “sensible” way forward would be found.
He said: “But there is a very different question with our relationship with the EU, we are their most important export market. “If you look at the issue of Belgium... we are a huge market for Belgian agriculture.
Nobody in Continental Europe benefits from a reduction in the ability to trade with the UK
“Nobody in Continental Europe benefits from a reduction in the ability to trade with the UK. “I have always been convinced we will have tariff-free trade, we will have sensible trading arrangements, because it is in both our interests that that should happen.”
He acknowledged there would be “political positioning” before talks which Theresa May will start when she invokes Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty no later than March 31.
But since he took up his post after the June 23 referendum continental counterparts had displayed “nothing but friendly relations and a desire to work together”.
Mr Grayling resisted calls for Parliament to be given more advance information about Government negotiating strategy and aims.
He said: “We cannot give a running commentary. “I know people are frustrated, they want to know what’s going on but laying all your cards on the table at the start of a negotiation is not sensible.
Theresa May says UK will develop unique trade deal with EU
'We are a huge market for Belgian agriculture', Mr Grayling said
We will do the right thing for Britain. We will inform Parliament as much as we possibly can but ultimately the national interest has to come first.”
He spoke as senior Labour MP Hilary Benn urged the Government to commit to securing a “transitional” trade deal with the EU if it could not make a permanent agreement within the two years set aside.
Ministers and MPs are split on what kind of deal Britain should seek, with many pro-Remain MPs insisting the UK must aim to stay in the Single Market trading area or as close to it as possible.
There will be 'political positioning' before talks which Theresa May will start
They point to the collapse of efforts after seven years to finalise the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, Ceta, between the EU and Canada as a sign of how the difficulties facing the UK.
Canadian negotiators went home last week after failing to convince leaders of the Belgian region of Wallonia - which has just 0.7 per cent of Europe’s population - to drop its opposition to the treaty.
Hilary Benn urged the Government to commit to securing a 'transitional' trade deal with the EU
The Belgian government cannot approve Ceta until all its regions agree. Mr Grayling said the volume of UK-EU trade put their talks in a different league from those with Canada - and Wallonia would back a deal with Britain to protect its farmers’ export opportunities.