Trade Secretary Liam Fox hints Britain could STAY part of EU’s customs union after Brexit
The Cabinet minister said the divorce may take the form of a Turkey-EU style relationship
BRITAIN could do a Turkey and stay part of the EU’s customs union – Trade Secretary Liam Fox has said.
In a big u-turn, Mr Fox admitted the EU divorce was more “complex” than a choice between soft or hard Brexit.
He said: “We want to look at all the different things, it’s not binary.
“Turkey for example is in parts of the customs union but not the other parts.”
In July, the hardliner insisted Brexit Britain should cut all ties with the EU in a so-called hard Brexit.
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The customs union includes all 28 EU member states alongside Turkey, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra.
Critically being in the customs union would force Brexit Britain to accept EU tariffs on any trade deals struck with other a country outside the bloc.
Separately the Australian High Commissioner said he didn’t want to see trade barriers erected between the UK and EU.
But the Commissioner, Alexander Downer, insisted it wouldn’t take “very long” for Australia and the UK to strike a free trade deal in any case.
He said: “The UK wouldn’t want to put a lot of obstacles in the way to Australia, and we certainly wouldn’t want to put a lot of obstacles in the way to British exports.”
