UK government sees Brussels demands on new trade deal ridiculous

Demands made by Brussels ahead of Brexit trade talks are unreasonable and ridiculous, a government source is claiming as the UK prepares to start negotiations. A new Brussels blueprint says the EU will seek to police UK subsidies, impose rules on its tax regime and ask the government to commit to aligning with the EU’s standards forever.

Sky News reports that Brussels has already agreed with countries such as Canada, South Korea and Japan that there should be no such requirements in its trade deals with them.

On subsidies, the EU is demanding that the UK sticks to Brussels rules permanently, according to the British government, and also wants jurisdiction over how the rules are enforced in the UK.

And on tax, in a move that will incense senior Tory Brexiteers, the government claims the EU wants the UK to comply with its standards and take part in its cross border tax planning arrangements.

The prime minister’s fury with Brussels has emerged after his chief negotiator, David Frost, and his 40-person Brexit task force met this week to finalise the UK government’s negotiating position.

Via Sky News