'The government walking away from this EU deal just smacks of ideological dogma'

The UK's bid to join a 46-country trade agreement on mutually open government procurement markets has hit a setback after the US formally objected to its accession being delayed until the Brexit transition period ends, according to an internal EU note seen by MLex.

German firms won almost three times as much in contract fees than the UK, with its share rising to €307m (£281m) in 2018

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) awarded three contracts in December for additional shipping freight capacity, required in the event of a no-deal Brexit, direct to providers without running an open EU competitive process.

The U.K.’s post-Brexit access to $1.7 trillion in public projects relies on the good will of its European neighbors. Too bad Moldova holds a grudge. The tiny country wedged between Romania and Ukraine is joining half a dozen nations in blocking the U.K.’s re-entry to the World Trade Organization’s Government Procurement Agreement ...

When asked about the major challenges facing UK negotiators in the trade talks, 39 per cent said the UK has a weak negotiating position.

‘Member states and the UK had the opportunity to signal their interest to participate in any joint procurements,’ says EU spokesperson

Of all the possible obstacles to Britain’s smooth exit from the European Union, few can have seemed less likely than Moldova.

The UK will set up its own electronic tender notification platform to replace the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) section of the EU Official Journal (OJEU) if it leaves the EU without a formal Brexit deal in place, it has confirmed.