Trade Minister Liam Fox hails Canada’s deal with the EU as a blueprint for Britain’s Brexit negotiations with Brussels
Canada's newly struck deal with the EU includes eliminates 98 per cent of tariffs on goods ranging from cheese, spirits and meat
TRADE minister Liam Fox has hailed Canada’s deal with the EU as a blueprint for a wide-ranging agreement that Britain can strike with Brussels.
The Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, which comes into force today, removes 98 per cent of tariffs.
The biggest winners from the deal are producers of beef, cheese, marmalade and spirits such as gin, vodka and whiskies.
And nearly all tariffs on manufactured products such as cars will be eliminated.
Canadian international trade minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Ceta showed just the minimum of what a post-Brexit trade deal could achieve.
He said: “Ceta sets new and progressive standards for all trading nations.
“As long standing trading partners, Canada and the UK remain steadfast in their joint commitment to the benefits of global free trade.
“I am confident that with Ceta, we have set the stage for exciting opportunities for British and Canadian companies alike.”
Boris Johnson and fellow Brexit-supporting ministers want a “Ceta-plus” arrangement modelled on the Canada deal for Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU.
But Cabinet rivals such as Chancellor Philip Hammond favour an “EEA-minus” deal similar to Switzerland’s involving payments for access to the single market.
Mr Fox said: “Ceta opens the door for UK companies to trade easily and cheaply with a valuable market in which there is considerable demand for British products, skills and expertise.
“It is also an important blueprint for what our future trading relationship with Canada could look like.
“As an international economic department, we will help UK companies to make the most of this boost to bilateral trade and lay solid foundations for our trading ties with Canada.”
