LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May hosts EU President Donald Tusk for Brexit talks Thursday, on the eve of her keynote speech on future trade ties and amid a row over Northern Ireland. There can be no frictionless trade outside of the customs union and the single market. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier insisted the customs union plan was a “fallback” option in case Britain’s two preferred options—hi-tech frictionless border controls, or a solution linked to a future EU-UK trade deal—fell through. However, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned the Irish issue was being used to try to force Britain to change course and commit to a new customs union. However, the opposition Labor party this week called for Britain to agree a new customs union, which it said would protect jobs and resolve the Irish question.

Source: Manila Times March 01, 2018 12:45 UTC