An NHS sell-off, lower food standards and secretive corporate courts: the battles facing Britain's new trade secretary
26/07/2019
Boris Johnson’s new trade secretary will be tasked with negotiating as many new trade deals as possible. Here are some fault-lines expected to emerge over the coming months.
Tory government 'looking at' granting Australians freedom of movement denied to EU citizens after Brexit, cabinet minister Liz Truss says
18/09/2019
Australian citizens could get freedom of movement rights denied to EU nationals after Brexit, international trade secretary Liz Truss has suggested.
Trade secretary says scrapping protections ‘vital for giving us the freedom and flexibility’ to sign deals.
UK officials discussed NHS at ‘secret’ meetings with US drug companies as part of trade talks
28/10/2019
Envoys sidestep ban on discussing drug prices by referring to controversial subject ‘valuing innovation’.
A post-Brexit deal should make it easier to build supermarkets, avoid tax and sue the UK, US business lobbyists say.
‘Singapore on steroids’: Sir Martin Sorrell lays out low-tax, low-regulation vision for Brexit Britain
13/11/2019
Britain should become a “Singapore on steroids” economy with low taxes, low regulation and a renewed focus on trade with America after Brexit, according to Sir Martin Sorrell.
The Morrison government has baulked at expanding a new post-Brexit trade pact to include visa-free work and travel between Australia and the United Kingdom, arguing any special deal that circumvented existing immigration caps could be deeply unpopular in both countries.
SNP calls for opposition parties to back two-year Brexit transition extension due to coronavirus crisis
05/05/2020
United opposition would ‘send a powerful message to our European friends,’ says MP Ian Blackford — as ministers insist there’s no reason to change timetable.
Confidential documents cannot be revealed until five years after a deal is in force.
International trade minister Liz Truss is reportedly preparing a “big concession package” to secure a trade deal with Donald Trump and the United States.
Government Rejects Proposed Ban On 'Poor Quality' US Food Imports After Brexit Transition
13/05/2020
Rishi Sunak accidentally votes against government, but ministers see off attempt to uphold food standards in post-Brexit trade deals.
Trust British consumers to choose whether to buy US chlorinated chicken, Tory minister says
09/06/2020
But consumers may not be given information about US meat.
Brexit trade deal with New Zealand will have 'close to zero' benefit to UK economy, government admits
18/06/2020
Deal could lower welfare of the population and shrink GDP.
The U.K.’s hopes of a swift trade deal with Japan will ultimately rest on a successful resolution to the main talks between London and the European Union on a new trading arrangement, some experts say.
The U.K. will set up a new commission to inform its post-Brexit agricultural policy, bowing to pressure from British farmers and potentially complicating trade negotiations with the U.S.
Consumer groups and Lib Dem MP Layla Moran call on chains to follow Waitrose's lead ahead of US-UK trade deal.
International trade secretary tells PM and chancellor plans risk smuggling and damage to UK reputation.
Businesses will discover details of customs regime after Brexit on Monday.
George Freeman tells HuffPost UK Boris Johnson must not "sell out" manifesto pledge as MPs prepare for fresh potential rebellions.
Ministers accused of building 'pointless lorry park in Kent' after announcing £700m for trade checks [1 min]
12/07/2020
'This is all so pointless. We are creating a vast customs bureaucracy, with costs passed on to the consumer'
Britain will spend 705 million pounds on border infrastructure to help keep trade flowing after its transition deal with the European Union expires at the end of the year, Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove said on Sunday.
Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has defended his plans for new post-Brexit border infrastructure after Labour said the government was unprepared.
British companies trading with Europe will have to absorb a post-Brexit bureaucracy burden and fill in an extra 215m customs declarations at a cost of about £7bn a year, according to government officials.
Fed-up farmers broke off from the busy harvest schedule to travel to Westminster today (Wednesday 8 July) and tell Boris Johnson’s government “don’t destroy Britain’s world-class farming industry by striking cheap food trade deals”.