- Theresa May and Leo Varadkar are to work together to come up with a new plan on how to achieve a frictionless Irish border after Brexit that does not involve the EU demanding Northern Ireland stays in the customs union and single market. But speaking to reporters after bilateral talks in Belfast, the taoiseach admitted that achieving this was the “tricky bit” in Brexit talks. “The two governments are very much of the view that the agreement that was made back in December stands,” Varadkar said. He was speaking days after Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, said it “was important to tell the truth” and that the UK’s stated intent to leave the customs union and single market meant border checks would be “unavoidable”. (The Guardian)
- EU member states are increasingly at odds over the “hard line” taken by France, Germany and the Commission over the UK’s future trade deal, it has emerged. Charles Grant, director of the think tank Centre for European Reform, tweeted last night that around 10-to-12 countries had “some concerns” about the approach being taken by the traditional core of the EU, “particularly on the narrow scope of the deal that they appear to want to offer UK”. (City AM)
- Australia’s high commissioner to the UK has spoken out about the benefits of Britain leaving the customs union after its exit from the EU next year – saying that by negotiating unilateral trade agreements instead, the country would be able to retain control of its trade policy. Speaking to BBC radio, Alexander Downer said that Australia had experienced the “huge advantages of unilateral trade liberalisation” itself. “The fact is that it does lead to some economic restructuring – some redirection of investment. But it also contributes to economic reform, and you need a constant rate of economic reform to achieve high rates of economic growth,” he said. (The Independent)
