Politics1 min read

Andy Burnham to unveil EU trade deals worth billions of pounds

By · Via The Guardian Politics · Published by Everything Blog

In short

British officials are finalizing three major agreements covering agriculture, the EU emissions trading system, and reciprocal youth travel arrangements ahead of a Brussels summit on 20 November. The package includes an agricultural arrangement projected to generate over £5bn by 2040 by easing restrictions on items such as Scottish salmon and reinstating pet passports. In exchange for a multi-billion-pound fee, Britain will also access the EU carbon market to bypass a pending cross-border carbon tax. Broader negotiations are progressing despite ongoing friction regarding European demands for the UK to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Key points

  • Rejoining the emissions trading scheme for a multi-billion-pound fee prevents an impendin…: Rejoining the emissions trading scheme for a multi-billion-pound fee prevents an impending European cross-border carbon tax set to take effect in January.
  • British agricultural exporters will gain significant relief through reduced restrictions…: British agricultural exporters will gain significant relief through reduced restrictions on Scottish salmon, live molluscs, and controlled pesticide sales.
  • Negotiators are attempting to lower university tuition fees for European students while r…: Negotiators are attempting to lower university tuition fees for European students while resolving disagreements over import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Andy Burnham is preparing to announce billions of pounds of trade deals with the EU covering everything from youth visas to pet passports under his vision of a much closer relationship with the bloc.

With the prime minister scheduled to meet his European counterparts in Brussels on 20 November, officials have all but agreed three deals that would allow farmers to sell freely to the continent and travellers to take their animals abroad more easily.

Although parts of the agreement will not be put in place until 2028, those close to the talks insist the process will not be derailed by disagreements on European industrial policy or UK university fees.

Elements of the deal, which will see the UK pay the EU for access to its emissions trading scheme, face criticism from those who argue Britain is signing up to the same rules it was seeking to avoid when it left the bloc.

However, Burnham said on Tuesday that the agreement would boost the UK economy by £17bn – an increase of 0.4%. His advisers believe it will also strengthen…

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