The UK government is today arguing that the EU is wrong to be asking for what they're asking in trade talks. Like our voice should still matter in determining EU trade policy... and wrong on so many levels (from news.sky.com/story/boris-jo…) 1/ 
Most basic point - in a preferential trade deal both sides set their conditions for reduced or zero tariffs. There are always terms and conditions for this, and the larger player typically sets more stringent conditions. So that's the EU 2/
The UK's argument also displays a lack of knowledge on the heavy demands the EU placed on the likes of Canada and Japan in trade talks - for example for Japan in removing non-tariff barriers before talks... 3/ reuters.com/article/us-eu-…
Then the current direction of travel in EU trade policy towards more robust implementation of deals through the creation of a Chief Trade Enforcement Officer. The UK saying "why tough on us?" could be seen in their eyes as why were they so soft before? 4/ ec.europa.eu/commission/pre…
The UK government is also saying sometimes that we don't want a special deal, but at other times that we do - most obvious example being on financial services (previous Chancellor of course) 5/ reuters.com/article/us-bri…
The EU will also be aware that virtually all UK stakeholders (business, consumers, devolved administrations) are asking for something more than a skinny FTA, e.g. this from SMMT. Right now with little effect, but this might change even this year. 6/ smmt.co.uk/industry-topic…
Another reason this is not a normal trade negotiation - one part of the UK will follow EU rules. The skinnier the trade deal, the greater the trade friction between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This isn't well appreciated across government 7/ rte.ie/news/2020/0214…
It is even doubtful that UK ministers are fully aware of the impact of those extra checks coming from a skinny trade deal with the EU. They're not currently listening too much, but again that may change in the coming months. 8/ ft.com/content/b72686…
Economic relations between neighbours are also typically deeper than those with far-away countries - and this is a global phenomenon. Whether through Customs Unions or deeper than usual FTAs. The EU is typical in this regard. 9/
It is also noticeable that the UK is pointing to the EU's distant relations, but nothing on the doorstep. That's presumably because there's no EU-European country trade agreement the UK government likes. Now who's cherry picking? 10/
Whether the EU is right or wrong to behave in the way they do regarding trade relations is a fair debate - for them. Not for the UK. We left. It's like concerning ourselves with Member State competences - an issue no longer of concern to us. 11/
Basically the UK is picking a pointless fight on a subject we can't win, rather than doing something more productive like building domestic consensus or rebuilding friendships in the EU and elsewhere. And yes, we do want a special trade agreement. That should be obvious 12/ end
