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Barnier, the EU’s top negotiator, hinted on Thursday that Brussels could prevent the UK from exporting its agriculture and food to the bloc. It comes after the EU criticized the Prime Minister’s proposed changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.
Barnier said on Thursday that Brussels could refuse to add the UK to a list of countries allowed to export to the EU for fear that its food standards would not line up.
Government sources told the Daily Telegraph on Friday that Barnier’s comments were “explicit” threats to the UK.
The sources claimed that the public comments were “absolutely ridiculous” and warned that they would have a serious impact on future UK-EU relations.
Ministers are understood to be making contingency plans in case the EU prevents the UK from exporting its food to the bloc.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson warns that Britain may not survive the EU deal: “The disintegration of our country!”
Government sources also noted that Northern Ireland remains subject to EU food regulations under the current version of the Withdrawal Agreement.
They suggested to the Daily Telegraph that this could create complications for products heading to mainland Britain in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
A Whitehall source added: “It’s totally ridiculous that they consider not giving us this.
“We are starting from a place of alignment because our food standards are the same as theirs.
“It would be great to retain something like this. Basically, it’s a leverage tool.”
Another government source adding food exports between the UK and the EU is the “absolute basis for a relationship.”
They also said: “It is a license to export and completely separate from the issue of food standards.
“It would be highly unusual for the EU to go this route and reject UK listing.”
The UK is currently aligned with all EU food standards, and Downing Street has always expected to be granted ‘third party’ status for exports because of this.
It follows Mr Johnson accusing the EU of threatening a food “blockade” in the Irish Sea by refusing to allow UK “third party” status for food exports.
Defending his proposal to amend the Withdrawal Agreement, Johnson also told the EU to “take their threats off the table.”
The original Withdrawal Agreement gives the EU oversight of goods of animal origin that are transported from the mainland to Northern Ireland for four years, meaning that Brussels could use an “extreme interpretation” to impose tariffs or make trade illegal. .
Johnson said the risk of that is a “danger to the very fabric of the UK” in a video call to MPs on Friday.
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