Brussels chief ‘surprised’ at Boris Johnson’s Brexit stance
Boris Johnson’s suggestion that the UK could be prepared to accept an ‘Australian-style’ relationship with the EU without a formal trade deal has “surprised” Brussels.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that even Australia wants a better trading relationship with the bloc than the one it currently has.
She said the UK and EU should be “way more ambitious” about reaching a full trade deal.


In a speech setting out the UK’s negotiating objectives, Johnson said the question was whether to seek a Canadian-style deal or an Australian-style relationship, “and I have no doubt that in either case the UK will prosper”.
But speaking in the European Parliament, von der Leyen said both models fell short of a deal which would meet the goals of allowing trade without tariffs and quotas.
Read on...
Support us and go ad-freeThat aim, set out in the Political Declaration, would require a “level playing field” with both sides guaranteeing “fair competition and the protection of social, environmental and consumer standards”.
“We are ready to discuss all different models of trade agreement. But all these models, whatever you choose, have one thing in common – they all come not only with rights but also with obligations for both sides.”
The Canada deal eliminates most, but not all, tariffs and quotas and “we still have our standards that have to be respected”, she said.
Von der Leyen added: “Honestly, I was a little bit surprised to hear the prime minister of the United Kingdom speak about the Australian model.
“Australia, without any doubt, is a strong and a like-minded partner. But the European Union does not have a trade agreement with Australia.
“We are currently trading on WTO terms and, if this is the British choice, well, we are fine with that, without any question.”
But the EU was trying to negotiate a trade deal with Australia to end the current situation.
“Of course the UK can decide to settle for less, but I personally believe that we should be way more ambitious,” she said.
“We will enter the negotiations with the UK with the highest ambition. Because good old friends like the UK and us should not settle for anything less than this.”
Speech by President @vonderleyen in #EPlenary → https://t.co/ThnrQFfZjL#NewBeginnings 🇪🇺🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/X4umsbRJbf
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) February 11, 2020
Von der Leyen’s speech in Strasbourg came as the UK government set out further details of its plans for 1 January 2021 after the Brexit transition period expires.
Chancellor Sajid Javid said the government will aim to conclude a full range of equivalence assessments by June 2020 – allowing the UK and EU to respect each other’s rules.
But he said the UK would also have the freedom to diverge and regulate in a different way from the rules set in Brussels.
Writing in City AM, he said: “Each side will only grant equivalence if it believes the other’s regulations are compatible.
“But compatible does not mean identical, and both the UK and the EU have at different times recognised the importance of focusing on regulatory outcomes.
“We will no longer be rule-takers, but we remain committed to the highest international standards of financial regulation and to shaping global rule-making.”
Senior cabinet minister Michael Gove confirmed on Monday that goods coming to Britain from the EU will face import controls from 1 January.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the government would have to move fast to get infrastructure in place for the start of 2021, warning that without adequate preparations the availability of goods on shelves would be disrupted, with fresh fruit and vegetables especially vulnerable.
Support us and go ad-freeWe know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support
The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.
The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.
So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.
That is funny.
England having the WTO rules as a basis of trade with the EU rules just when the WTO is beginning to come apart as Trump has shown an immense disfavour with it.
The Tories aren’t living in the present. All their ideas seem to be 10 years old, while the world has changed so radically. Trump has been around for 3 years only.
After worry, an unease about the future, then what?