Britain will be free to sign trade deals during the Brexit transition period without permission from the European Union after a climbdown by Brussels, The Times has learnt. EU negotiators have accepted the UK’s demand that it should be able to pursue an independent trade policy while remaining inside the customs union and single market. Publicly, the EU’s negotiating guidelines still state that Britain will not be able to implement trade deals “unless authorised to do so by the union”. Behind closed doors the position taken by Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief negotiator, is understood to have softened significantly. The latest draft of a potential transition deal says that Britain will be able to both negotiate and sign trade deals during the period. The EU
The European Union has said it will allow the UK to negotiate and sign trade deals with other countries during the Japan transition period. The move followed a concession from EU governments, which did not see the benefit in pulling apart established deals with Brussels and Brexit . In addition, the The European Union has agreed the UK will be separate to Brussels at the World Trade Organisation in Japan , and can participate in its own right as long as it does not contradict EU policy.