Downing Street delays No Deal Brexit tariffs report to avoid outrage before crunch vote
No10 wants the bombshell report announced after MPs vote on the PM's deal as 'they worry Brexiteers will see it as another bit of Project Fear while anti-Brexit MPs will see it as proof No Deal has to be taken off the table'
DOWNING STREET is delaying a bombshell announcement on No Deal tariffs to avoid uproar before a crunch Brexit vote next week.
Cabinet sources last night said that long-awaited details of import duties on areas such as food and ceramics will only come “next Thursday or Friday”.
No.10 wants to delay the announcement so it comes after MPs are asked to vote for either the PM’s deal or a push by Yvette Cooper and Oliver Letwin to delay Brexit on Wednesday.
One insider said the Government was “terrified” how the tariff announcement will be viewed by MPs. One said: “They worry that Brexiteers will see it as another bit of Project Fear while anti-Brexit MPs will see as proof that No Deal has to be taken off the table.”
Under World Trade Organisation rules, Britain must apply tariffs to all other countries. Trade Secretary Liam Fox wants a move to zero tariffs in as many areas as possible.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove enraged Cabinet colleagues earlier this week by telling farmers the Government would put high tariffs on agricultural imports to protect UK farmers.
And Business Secretary Greg Clark is lobbying for high tariffs on ceramic imports and steel to safeguard industry.
An outline deal was said to have been finalised two weeks ago.
But separate “bi-lateral” talks are now taking place between departments and the Treasury. The Chancellor is pushing to keep tariffs low to protect consumers.
Downing Street declined to comment.
The Government yesterday separately confirmed The Sun’s revelation last week that that rollover trade deals with two big markets - Japan and Turkey - will not be finalised in time for a No Deal Brexit.
Trade Secretary Mr Fox predicted in 2017 that the UK would be able to replicate up to 40 EU free trade deals, accounting for around 11% of the UK’s trade, for “a second after midnight” on Brexit day.
But so far he has only been able to finalise “continuity agreements” with just seven of the 69 countries and regions with which the EU has trade deals, Switzerland, Chile, the Faroe Islands, Eastern and Southern Africa, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The CBI said confirmation that deals with Japan and Turkey will not be concluded in time would come as “an unwelcome surprise” to businesses.
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