British Prime Minister Theresa May won agreement Friday from her warring cabinet to pursue “a UK-EU free trade area” after Brexit, as she bids to unblock negotiations with the bloc amid warnings time is running out to get a deal.
The proposal would create “a common rule book for industrial goods and agricultural products”, May said in a statement following a day of talks at Chequers, the 16th-century manor house near London that serves as her official country retreat.
She added ministers also settled on “a new business-friendly customs model”, which would maintain high standards but allow Britain “to strike new trade deals around the world” once it has left the European Union next March.
The government believes that plan would allow Britain to maintain frictionless trade with the EU in goods, avoid customs checks on the sensitive Irish border, and end both free movement of people and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Britain.
The positions were agreed at the much-anticipated cabinet meeting as rumours swirled that ministers such as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson could oppose elements of the stance and resign.
“Today in detailed discussions the cabinet has agreed our collective position for the future of our negotiations with the EU,” the prime minister said.
“Next week we will be publishing a white paper which will set out more details of how we will be taking back control of our money, laws and borders,” she added.
“Now we must all move at pace to negotiate our proposal with the EU.”
