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United Kingdom

Burnham to unveil UK-EU trade deals covering food, farming and youth mobility

The agreements would cut border checks on food and drink and could shape the UK's long-term relationship with the EU, affecting business and government planning.

Photo: Andover Advertiser

What happened

Andy Burnham is preparing to announce trade deals with the EU worth billions of pounds, covering youth visas and pet passports. Yahoo News Officials have all but agreed three deals that would allow farmers to sell freely to the continent and make it easier for travellers to take animals abroad. Yahoo News A draft text has been agreed between London and Brussels to align Great Britain and the EU on trade rules for food and plant goods. Andover Advertiser+1 The prime minister is set to unveil the deal with Brussels at a summit on 20 November, with border checks on food and drink stripped away and a new youth mobility scheme included. The Independent+1

Around it

Burnham said the agreement would boost the UK economy by £17bn, an increase of 0.4 per cent. Yahoo News Critics argue that Britain is signing up to rules it sought to avoid when it left the EU, including paying for access to the EU emissions trading scheme. Yahoo News DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the deal does not go far enough and shows a lack of ambition, while Sinn Féin's Caoimhe Archibald welcomed it as a step towards reducing trade friction. Andover Advertiser+1 Labour's manifesto red lines rule out agreements on free movement or rejoining the EU, customs union or single market, though rejoining the bloc is being considered as a future manifesto pledge. The Independent

What comes next

Burnham plans to use the summit in Brussels on 20 November to launch a new discussion on the UK's options beyond the next election. The Independent Parts of the agreement will not be put in place until 2028. Yahoo News

Sources

  1. Yahoo NewsAndy Burnham to unveil EU trade deals worth billions of pounds
  2. The IndependentNew EU deal worth billions must be ‘launch pad’ to rejoin, Burnham told
  3. Andover AdvertiserExpected UK-EU deal on agri-goods prompts familiar divisions
  4. FINCHANNELUK-EU food trade deal moves toward November summit after draft agreement
  5. The StandardUK-EU agri-deal demonstrates ‘lack of ambition’ from Government, DUP claims

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