ARTICLE · 03 MARCH 2020

EU Comments Further On Future EU-UK Relationship

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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Today, the European Commission President (Ursula von der Leyen) and the EU's chief Brexit Negotiator (Michel Barnier) ...

European UnionGovernment, Public Sector

Herbert Smith Freehills

Today, the European Commission President (Ursula von der Leyen) and the EU's chief Brexit Negotiator (Michel Barnier) addressed the European Parliament on the future of the EU's relations with the UK.

In her speech, Ms von der Leyen reiterated the EU's ambitions for its anticipated free trade agreement with the UK, in particular: "a zero tariffs and a zero quotas trade relation for all goods" along with "corresponding guarantees on fair competition and the protection of social, environmental and consumer standards...the level playing field". Ms von der Leyen noted the UK Government's desire to pursue a free trade agreement based on the Canadian model, CETA. In closing, Ms von der Leyen commented that the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom ("UKTF") was ready to start negotiations.

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