UK will not accept EU offer to join pan-European customs union ‘at present time’, minister says – UK politics live
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Housing minister shoots down idea floated by Maroš Šefčovič designed to help reset UK-EU discussions.
Good morning. The government is obsessed with finding any levers it can that might generate growth. At Davos yesterday Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, was asked if growth was even more important than promoting net zero, and she replied: “Well, if [growth is] the number one mission, it’s obviously the most important thing.” Today the government is announcing potentially significant plans that could limit the scope of judicial review applications to hold back growth. Pippa Crerar, Kiran Stacey and Sandra Laville have the details here.
Economists argue that an obvious move to promote growth would be to have closer trade links with the EU. But the government has ruled out rejoining the single market or the custom union (let alone rejoining the EU proper – which is still largely a taboo proposal in most parts of UK politics). And today a minister has ruled out an EU proposal for the UK to join, not the customs union, but a customs union with the EU.
Šefčovič referred to the idea of the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM).
These are common rules that allow parts, ingredients and materials for manufacturing supply chains to be sourced from across dozens of countries in Europe and North Africa to be used in tariff-free trade.
We’re not seeking to participate in that particular arrangement.
I think in general the government’s been very clear … we do want a closer relationship with our European partners, both in trading terms, but also, importantly … in terms of security and defense cooperation, where we need to work far more closely. So absolutely, yes, we do want a closer relationship.
