Britain ‘days away’ from post-Brexit trade deal with Canada but time is running out for dozens more agreements to be signed
- Whitehall officials believe agreement with Ottawa is achievable before March 29
- It will effectively copy Canada’s economic pact with the EU for British companies
- UK is biggest trading partner Canada has within the EU so a deal is significant
- Time running out to secure the 40 free-trade deals Liam Fox promised – with only seven obtained so far
Britain is expected to sign a trade deal with Canada within days, but time is running out for dozens more agreements to be signed before Brexit.
Whitehall officials believe an agreement with Ottawa is achievable before March 29, when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.
It will effectively copy Canada’s economic pact with the EU for British companies after Brexit, and is a boost for Liam Fox’s Department for International Development.
Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox, walking outside Downing Street yesterday, promised to secure up to 40 free-trade agreements in 2017, but the UK has so far only agreed seven
The UK is the biggest trading partner Canada has within the EU, so a deal is significant for both sides across the Atlantic.
Mr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, promised in 2017 to secure Britain up to 40 free-trade agreements replicating existing EU arrangements in time for Brexit ‘one second after midnight’.
But the UK has only agreed seven, covering markets including Switzerland and Chile in the event of No Deal.
The Government has nine days to finalise at least two dozen such trade deals.
Firms will face higher tariffs and trade barriers abroad if it fails to do so.
According to a diplomatic note seen by The Times, Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator, told European envoys on Friday that Britain was about to ‘sign a free trade agreement with Canada’.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator, told European envoys on Friday that Britain was about to ‘sign a free trade agreement with Canada’
It comes as Mrs May is set to travel to Brussels to establish the terms of an extension to Article 50 before putting it to the Commons next week.
During a stormy session of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister rounded on Mr Bercow for dredging up a 17th century convention in order to block a third vote on her plan. She said the Speaker was making a laughing stock of Parliament.
In the wake of his ruling, which came as a surprise to No 10, Mrs May told ministers: ‘The Speaker has framed this debate as Parliament versus the Government. But what it actually is now is Parliament versus the people.’
But the Prime Minister’s plan to ask for a nine-month Brexit delay could be ditched after a furious bust up at cabinet yesterday between senior ministers.
Mrs May is now expected to ask Donald Tusk for a three month extension rather than her original plan of nine months.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and International Trade chief Liam Fox were thought to be against a lengthy delay, as was Commons leader Andrea Leadsom.
She said: ‘This used to be the cabinet that would deliver Brexit and now from what I’m hearing it’s not.’
It comes a thousand days on from the 2016 referendum – and just ten days before the UK is due to leave the Brussels club.