Michael Gove drops a heavy hint that the UK could drop its ask for a zero tariff and zero quota trade deal at June's high-level meeting, and instead seek a carbon copy of the EU's trade deal with Canada (CETA) which includes tariffs and quotas, most notably on agrifood products.
'It is the case that we seek a zero tariff, zero quota arrangement. Were it to be the case the EU were to say we don't think we can give you that unless you sign up to all our Level Playing Field arrangements and we said OK we're not signing up to those LPF arrangements...
...we'll have non-regression clauses and agreements so you can be sure about our standards, but if it is the case we end up like CETA with tariffs on a small number of goods we'll regret that, think it's a missed opportunity, but if that's the price we have to pay, there we go...
It's just a for instance of an area where we'd say we're prepared to modify our ask because of the importance we maintain over regulatory autonomy. It may be that the EU doesn't regard that as worthwhile or helpful but it's one of the ways in which we'd be prepared to show leg.'
