It is not our policy to be in a customs union.” The statement went further than May who, on Friday, refused to rule out involvement in a customs union when questioned during her visit to China. Key cabinet colleagues will meet on Wednesday and Thursday to decide the details of the government’s policy regarding a customs union. The Downing Street source claimed that a customs union was entirely different from a customs arrangement, which would allow the government to strike trade deals with countries outside the EU. Last week, Brexit advisers were reportedly considering whether the UK could strike a customs union deal with the EU that would cover just trade in goods. It is understood that he plans to argue against a customs union in Downing Street this week but still backs May in public.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2018 13:01 UTC