UK to seek 'most frictionless' possible trade agreement post-Brexit

The UK’s negotiating team will seek an agreement with the EU which "allows the freest and most frictionless trade possible" between the sides post-Brexit.

Brexit Minister David Davis and his team will meet with their European counterparts at the end of this month for the latest round of talks in order to thrash out the details of Britain’s exit from the bloc.

In a series of policy papers released on Monday ahead of the talks, Davis’s department sets out four key principles related to its stance, which has the main aim of "ensuring a smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU in regard to the availability of goods".

Among the guidelines is a pledge to ensure goods can continue being sold in the UK and EU without additional requirements or restrictions.

Davis said it was important that a strong link between the UK and its European neighbours was maintained

In addition, the paper also sets out a method of ensuring consumer protection by the continuance of oversight on the safety and quality of goods and services.

Davis said it was important that a strong link between the UK and its European neighbours was maintained in the aftermath of the separation.

"These papers will help give businesses and consumers certainty and confidence in the UK’s status as an economic powerhouse after we have left the EU," Davis said.

"They also show that as we enter the third round of negotiations, it is clear that our separation from the EU and future relationship are inextricably linked."

Another policy paper released on Tuesday was in relation to confidentiality and access to documents, where the UK will aim to reach a deal based on equivalent terms.

"As the UK leaves the EU, it will be important to establish a framework for the continued respect of obligations of confidentiality and the protection of official documents exchanged while it was a member state," the paper said.

"The necessary protections concerning both UK and EU data should be on equivalent terms to those laid out in existing regimes."