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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Boris Johnson prepared to walk away from free trade deal, as Barnier insists UK must keep EU regulations

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Adam Forrest,Lizzy Buchan,Peter Stubley
Monday 03 February 2020 21:46 GMT
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Boris Johnson Says UK Wants A Free Trade Agreement 'Similar To Canada's'

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Boris Johnson has set out his stall on post-Brexit talks with Brussels – demanding a “Canada-style” free trade deal and vowing that Britain will not accept any EU rules on social protections and the environment.

The PM has said he would be willing to accept trade arrangements “more like Australia’s” if the EU does not agree. Acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey claimed Mr Johnson was simply re-branding a no-deal crash out scenario, attacking it as “no deal in all but name”.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Brussels was prepared to make an “exceptional offer” for a wide-ranging free trade agreement – but said that it was conditional on retaining EU rules across a whole set of areas to uphold a “level playing field”.

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