Brexit trade talks set for acrimonious start as UK accuses EU of being too tough

UK officials accuse EU of 'cherry picking' as commission demands UK play by European rules

Brexit trade talks are getting off to an acrimonious start in Brussels, with the UK accusing the EU of “cherry-picking” and being too tough before negotiations have even begun in earnest.

Angry British officials have said the EU is trying to impose conditions on the UK that go far beyond the standard of a normal free trade agreement – after the European parliament overwhelmingly backed a no-nonsense negotiating mandate on Wednesday.

The EU says that Britain’s closeness to the continent and the interlinked nature of the two economies means the UK government must commit to maintain European standards on the environment, workers’ rights, and safety – including future rules – if it wants trade access.

Brussels and member states are worried that the UK could slash standards and outcompete European businesses on an unfair basis, and say the restrictions are needed to prevent this if the UK wants to keep tariff-free access to Europe’s single market.

On Tuesday in a debate about the mandate, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was prepared to offer the UK “something we have never ever before offered to anybody else”, describing the planned agreement as “a new model of trade” and “a unique ambition in terms of access to the single market”.

But she added: “Of course this would require corresponding guarantees on fair competition and the protection of social, environmental and consumer standards. In short, this is plain and simply this level playing field.”

But after MEPs followed member states in backing the approach at a sitting of the European parliament on Wednesday, a UK government source said: “Half the time the EU is telling us they are surprised we are not more ‘ambitious’ and the other half of the time they are saying we’re looking for too much.

“It’s now the EU who are cherry picking, suggesting ambition only where it suits them and adding obligations that go beyond a standard FTA. We are clear and consistent about what we want – not a bespoke or special FTA, but similar to the one the EU already has with Canada.”

The EU’s trade agreement with Canada, known as Ceta, does not abolish all tariffs and quotas with the EU, as the UK has said it is seeking – though it does get rid of most. But the agreement took years to negotiate, while Boris Johnson has said he wants to conclude an agreement by the end of the year.

Talks will start in earnest next month, with negotiations expected to take place in both Brussels and London. Boris Johnson has said he would rather leave without a trade agreement and trade on WTO terms than follow EU rules.

The testy start to negotiations is in contrast to the beginning of discussions on the withdrawal agreement in 2017, where both sides mostly began on good terms.

Back in Westminster, No 10 said the UK would “not accept alignment to EU rules in any way”.

“Having autonomy over our rules and laws is exactly the same principle that the EU have set out in their mandate. In fact they have said the parties should ensure that the parties retain their autonomy and the ability to regulate economic activity,” the prime minister’s spokesperson said.

“That is exactly what we are doing and asking. The political declaration set out our commitment to discuss open and fair competition as part of negotiations on our future relationship.

“We want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals and centred on free trade. We are not asking for a special bespoke or unique deal but one like the ones the EU has previously struck with other friendly countries like Canada.”