EU's Barnier draws up new Brexit trade deal - report
Brexit talks are accelerating but the European Union is not prepared to offer the UK a "frictionless" free trade deal, according to a report on Friday afternoon.
The bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier is ready to offer Britain a "super charged" trade deal, Bloomberg reported citing a diplomat close to the negotiations, but it will only incorporate 30-40% of what Theresa May's proposals have demanded, with the Irish border issue still not resolved.
Although Barnier's plan does not include frictionless border trade it "will make it even more important that the so-called Irish backstop is acceptable to the UK government and its Northern Irish allies" and be closer to the Candian-style deal that is the preferred option of leading Brexit supporters in May's party.
Earlier on Friday, Reuters reported that a deal was "very close", with a the UK staying in the bloc's customs union if the "backstop" is triggered.
EU council president Donald Tusk said the EU will be offering the UK a “Canada-plus-plus-plus deal” – a far-reaching trade agreement with extra accords on security and foreign policy.