London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 2025

Boris is seeking a Canada-style free-trade agreement after Brexit

Boris Johnson is seeking a Canada-style trade free trade agreement with the European Union after Brexit, it has been confirmed.

The PM is said to be ready to accept an ‘off-the-shelf’ trade model that was first proposed by Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

The UK now heads into an 11-month transition period during which trade, security, energy, transport links, fishing rights, data flow and citizens’ rights need to be hammered out.

It is set to be an uncertain time as both sides try to get the best from the divorce deal while attempting minimal disruption to the bloc’s 450 million citizens.

Mr Johnson is set to make a speech on Monday in which he is expected to confirm his wish for a Canada-style agreement – which took seven years to be agreed by the EU.

It allows for almost tariff-free trade in goods and does entail border checks.

It will not include the UK’s large services sector.

The Treasury has estimated that the economy will be 4.9% smaller under such a deal after 15 years than if it had remained in the EU.

The Canada-style agreement was rejected by Mr Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May.

However, he met with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, in Downing Street at the beginning of the year to express his openness to such a deal.

Leaders of the bloc have warned that trade deals typically take years to complete and few in Brussels believe anything will be finalised before January 2021.

A deal would be easier if the UK was willing to remain aligned with EU regulations but Westminster has refused.

The EU says it will not seal a trade deal with a large, economically powerful neighbour without solid provisions to guarantee fair competition.

Its demands will focus on ‘level playing-field’ issues — environmental and labour standards, as well as state aid rules -to ensure Britain would not be able to offer products on the bloc’s single market at unfairly low prices.

EU leaders have warned they will reject a Canada-style free trade agreement unless the government signs up to certain key European rules.

One of those could be that EU judges have the power to rule on the terms of any post-Brexit agreement, according to the Times.

That is unlikely to go down well with Mr Johnson while David Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator, has said the UK cannot have any involvement in agencies overseen by the European Court of Justice.

Talks will begin formally in March with Michel Barnier taking the lead for the EU and Mr Frost for the UK.

At the same time, the UK will be attempting to drum-up post-Brexit trade deals with the wider world – something that was banned while we were part of the EU.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
×