09-11-2020, 08:32 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-11-2020, 08:33 AM by Aractus.)
The Brexit Thread (topical thread)
The Brexit Thread (topical thread)
Well it looks like it may have been nothing more than retaliation from the UK government in response to threats made during the FTA negotiations:
“The incendiary trade talks power play infuriated the UK side and helped trigger their bombshell bid to make legal changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.
“Trade talks were in meltdown tonight after the Northern Ireland Secretary admitted Britain will break the law to tweak the exit terms signed by Boris Johnson just last year.
“Brandon Lewis unleashed an international firestorm after he starkly told the Commons the UK wants to rip up a signed treaty in ‘a very specific and limited way’.
“His confession triggered outrage from both senior Tory and Labour MPs as well as key EU figures - with Britain compared to a ‘rogue state’.
“And the Government's top lawyer Jonathan Jones quit, refusing to sign off the proposed new legislation that would make the changes.
“Food Plot
“But The Sun has learnt that London's attempt to ‘clarify’ parts of the 2019 exit treaty came after what they saw as veiled threats from Michel Barnier’s team that the EU could exploit parts of the Withdrawal Agreement if the UK did not bow to their trade deal demands.
“Under the terms of the deal export of ‘products of animal origin’ such as meat, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy from the UK mainland over to Northern Ireland will become subject to EU oversight.
“The EU has a ‘Third Country’ list of approved third parties that can legally import agricultural goods into areas subject to their rules.
“The UK being put on that approved list was assumed to be a given and not subject to negotiation, but Brits were left seething after Michel Barnier’s team hinted the UK may not be given that legal status if talks collapse.
“In a No Deal scenario it left open the chance that the EU could declare food exports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland illegal.
“The perceived threat prompted ministers to demand a ‘safety net’ to address the problem with new domestic legislation.”
- The Sun, emphasis added.
If this is true, then it makes perfect sense as to “why now” during the critical phases of a trade negotiation. If it's what the EU threatened - then it was a dirty tactic.
“The incendiary trade talks power play infuriated the UK side and helped trigger their bombshell bid to make legal changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.
“Trade talks were in meltdown tonight after the Northern Ireland Secretary admitted Britain will break the law to tweak the exit terms signed by Boris Johnson just last year.
“Brandon Lewis unleashed an international firestorm after he starkly told the Commons the UK wants to rip up a signed treaty in ‘a very specific and limited way’.
“His confession triggered outrage from both senior Tory and Labour MPs as well as key EU figures - with Britain compared to a ‘rogue state’.
“And the Government's top lawyer Jonathan Jones quit, refusing to sign off the proposed new legislation that would make the changes.
“Food Plot
“But The Sun has learnt that London's attempt to ‘clarify’ parts of the 2019 exit treaty came after what they saw as veiled threats from Michel Barnier’s team that the EU could exploit parts of the Withdrawal Agreement if the UK did not bow to their trade deal demands.
“Under the terms of the deal export of ‘products of animal origin’ such as meat, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy from the UK mainland over to Northern Ireland will become subject to EU oversight.
“The EU has a ‘Third Country’ list of approved third parties that can legally import agricultural goods into areas subject to their rules.
“The UK being put on that approved list was assumed to be a given and not subject to negotiation, but Brits were left seething after Michel Barnier’s team hinted the UK may not be given that legal status if talks collapse.
“In a No Deal scenario it left open the chance that the EU could declare food exports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland illegal.
“The perceived threat prompted ministers to demand a ‘safety net’ to address the problem with new domestic legislation.”
- The Sun, emphasis added.
If this is true, then it makes perfect sense as to “why now” during the critical phases of a trade negotiation. If it's what the EU threatened - then it was a dirty tactic.
