Johnson is saying here that the joint committee of a UK-EU trade deal should manage any divergence between UK and EU rules, and adjust market access accordingly.
Far from a trade deal by next December this would mean never-ending uncertainty.
Far from a trade deal by next December this would mean never-ending uncertainty.
This statement isn't out of the blue - there's definitely some thinking in the UK that the trade deal we do with the EU next December is just a framework for further discussions. That's probably the only way you can get agreement in 11 months. There would be implications though.
Most obviously such a framework agreement probably keeps us tied much closer to the EU than most of the Conservative Party would want. Also major democratic oversight implications. But these are the discussions to come.
As we keep saying, Get Brexit Done is just the end of one series, and start of another. The experience of European countries outside the EU is that their politics is probably more consumed by questions of EU relationship more than members.
