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The French are furious that Boris Johnson is pushing ahead with the internal market bill, which seeks to exaggerate key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU last year, which would subsequently violate international law. French Minister for Europe, Clément Beaune, told the Financial Times: “Of course the signals that have been sent out in recent days are damaging. Anything that disrupts, disturbs or increases tensions in the negotiations is regrettable and we will not be intimidated by a kind of intimidation at European level. “
Earlier this week, UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove spoke about access permits for international trucks to enter Kent and warned of huge lines of up to 7,000 vehicles waiting to cross the Canal.
But Beaune dismissed this as a way of expressing pressure on the EU, replying: “It won’t work. “So let’s not waste time with these unfortunate tactical games and let’s negotiate fairly.”
The French minister for Europe insists that France and the EU remain committed to reaching a Brexit deal with the UK, but warned that it would not be possible to grant Britain wider access to the continent’s market unless it agreed to abide by the sanitary and environmental regulations and restrictions of the block. State aid to companies to guarantee a level playing field.
He said: “If we too have to prepare for a ‘no deal’, we are aware of that and we are accelerating these preparations in France.”
“We are preparing for all scenarios. The best result is still reaching an agreement. It is desirable from a commercial, political and strategic perspective. “
Mr Beaune added: “Yes, and I hope it is not a serious possibility, if the UK does not honor the commitments already made, it would obviously be extremely difficult for us to make other agreements and organize our future relationship while we have this doubt. in our minds.
“So I hope it’s just a bad time. I hope that the British Parliament and the British Government will once again strictly respect the commitments made, which is indeed a condition for trust and the launch of the future relationship ”.
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8.28am update: Barnier says Boris’ hardline tactics created ‘opening’ for a trade deal
Hopes for a Brexit deal are rising after EU negotiators claimed that the prime minister’s hardline tactics had helped unblock trade talks.
Brussels sources said Michel Barnier believes that Boris Johnson’s threat to break the Withdrawal Agreement had created a “more open atmosphere” in talks with British negotiator Lord Frost.
And high-level diplomatic sources told Express.co.uk that the EU’s chief negotiator had identified several “landing zones” for compromises to break the deadlock on a post-Brexit trade deal.
Barnier was said not to be intimidated by the recent dispute over Downing Street’s willingness to annul parts of the divorce settlement related to Northern Ireland.
He promised to “stay calm” and remain at the negotiating table despite what was seen as deliberate provocation by No.10 to force him to leave the talks.
The Frenchman told a recent meeting of EU27 ministers that the internal market bill “does not help,” but insisted that it is “focused on the end of the negotiations,” according to a source familiar with the talks.
Another source said the legislation had created an “opening” in the talks when they came to an end.
8.10am update: car industry warns of ‘crippling tariffs’ without UK-EU trade deal
The auto industry warned of the “second impact of crippling tariffs” if a free trade deal between the UK and the EU cannot be reached, as fears of a no-deal outcome mount.
The Society of Engine Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Just over 51,000 vehicles rolled off the factory lines last month, 44 percent less than in August 2019.
Production for UK buyers plunged 58 percent to just 7,795 units, while exports declined 41 percent with 73,443 vehicles produced.
The SMMT said that nearly 85 percent of all cars built in Britain in August were destined for other countries, underscoring the importance to the UK sector and economy.
These latest figures also show that car production dropped 40 percent this year, representing a loss of 348,821 units.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, said: “With less than 100 days to go to the end of the Brexit transition period, we need an urgent agreement to an ambitious free trade agreement with our largest market to avoid the second impact of crippling tariffs “.
8am update: France lashes out at UK ‘bullying’ over post-Brexit trade deal
France has rebuffed UK warnings about delays in post-Brexit channel shipping as tensions continue to simmer between the EU and Britain over a post-Brexit trade deal.
Earlier this week, UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove spoke about access permits for international trucks to enter Kent and warned of huge lines of up to 7,000 vehicles waiting to cross the Canal.
But France’s European Minister Clément Beaune told the Financial Times: “Of course the signals that have been sent out in recent days are damaging.
“We are not going to fall into a kind of intimidation at European level.”
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