Twattish Brexiters getting very excited & wetting themselves about the “alternative White Paper” (early David Davis/DExEU) extracts published on Conservative Home website. Claim it proves there is a viable alternative to Chequers model...
But it’s really thin and unconvincing to anybody with the slightest understanding of modern trade rules. Big idea on agrifood: mutual recognition based on “outcome equivalence”. The 2 sides agree they’re pursuing the same goals and, if so, they can each have their own rules. 😩
It also repeats vacuous slogans of the kind that John Redwood & Owen Paterson have espoused from the beginning but which have already been debunked by the EU negotiators & independent trade experts e.g. ....
“The UK is in a unique position, since it starts from a point of full regulatory alignment on Day One after leaving the EU. It is therefore possible that a solution is achievable and within the grasp of both Parties.”
Also “UK will approach negotiations with a flexible & imaginative nature. Whilst we are seeking a bespoke agreement, UK has reached deep agreements with near neighbours in the past, allowing for free flow of agri-food products across borders.” [Who are they talking about here??]
“For this reason, the UK is seeking a model which both the EU & the UK can agree: An enhanced trading relationship based on trust
Robust governance mechanisms to ensure that the UK can continue to meet its commitments into the future, with flexibility in how those are delivered”
Robust governance mechanisms to ensure that the UK can continue to meet its commitments into the future, with flexibility in how those are delivered”
“... and
Respecting the integrity of the Single Market, ensuring both parties continue to commit to high standards.”
Respecting the integrity of the Single Market, ensuring both parties continue to commit to high standards.”
“The position on agricultural products is underpinned by the following overarching objectives for the agri-food sector:
1. Maximise trading opportunities for the agri-food sector, ensuring open markets for each other’s products...”
1. Maximise trading opportunities for the agri-food sector, ensuring open markets for each other’s products...”
“... and securing flexibility to ensure the UK can make the most of the opportunities Exist presents for its farmers and exporters”
“2. Protect public, plant and animal health, animal welfare and the environment, ensuring the upmost safety of agricultural products and maintaining animal welfare and the environment standards at least as high as the EU, and...”
“3. Champion the consumer, safeguarding consumer confidence, food supply and food prices, providing continued access to the best available products.”
This really does read like garbage that has been thrown together in a hurry by the intern, or by the people who wrote the infamous sectoral impact assessments. @DExUKgov
Full link here: conservativehome.com/parliament/201…
No wonder Olly Robbins had to rewrite the whole thing. People who actually understand about modern-day trade policy and about the EU must have been horrified when David Davis handed this homework in.
Some glorious comments BTL (disclaimers: 1/ some of these are from other articles in the same series; and 2/ there are actually some sensible comments as well, from people who do realise that the proposals are garbage) 
