PREGNANT Meghan Markle reportedly waded into the post-Brexit trade deal row over chlorinated chicken as she voiced her concerns over US food standards. The Duchess of Sussex called for a change to “badly wrong” US food systems during a chat with the director of the Sustainable Food Trust at Buckingham Palace today, according to the Daily Mail. It comes after Donald Trump’s officials said they want Britain to open the door to chlorinated chicken, hormone-fed beef and GM crops as part of a bumper Brexit trade deal. The US is seeking “comprehensive market access” for US farm produce currently restricted by EU rules if Britain wants to secure a trade deal after Brexit. The controversial issue reportedly came up as Meghan, 37, and other royals celebrated the Prince of Wales during an event at Buckingham Palace. California-born Meghan, who is expecting her first baby in April, spoke to Patrick Holden, who is the founding director of the Sustainable Food … [Read more...] about Pregnant Meghan Markle ‘reveals fears over chlorinated chicken from the US’ amid post-Brexit trade deal row
Post brexit trade deals
Japan keen to do post-Brexit trade deal quickly
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox arrives in Downing Street in London, Britain January 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo TEL AVIV (Reuters) - British trade minister Liam Fox said on Monday that Japan was keen to agree a post-Brexit trade deal and believed it could be done “quite quickly”. The Financial Times earlier reported Japan had reacted with dismay to a letter from Fox and foreign minister Jeremy Hunt encouraging it to agree a quick trade deal with Britain as it was interpreted as an accusation of foot-dragging. “My Japanese counterparts are very keen to do (a deal) because they think such an agreement could be concluded quite quickly,” Fox said when asked by a reporter whether Japan may seek greater concessions from Britain when it had left the European Union. Fox, who is in Tel Aviv to sign a continuity trade agreement with Israel, also said that most of Britain’s trade with Japan to date has … [Read more...] about Japan keen to do post-Brexit trade deal quickly
MPs want ‘meaningful vote’ to be able to veto post-Brexit trade deals
MPs should have the power to veto post-Brexit trade deals negotiated by the government, a powerful Commons committee is demanding. The all-party International Trade Committee is calling for a "meaningful vote" on all trade agreements, a demand likely to be firmly rejected by the government.With the vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal currently deadlocked and postponed until next month, the proposal for further Commons votes on trade will dismay ministers.But the committee claims parliament, business, civil society, the devolved administrations and local government should all play a role in any post-Brexit trade policy.In a controversial report, the committee calls for a meaningful role for parliament before, during and after trade agreements and a presumption of transparency in relation to negotiating documents.Scottish National Party MP and arch-Remainer Angus MacNeil, the committee's chairman, said: "The UK is set to begin negotiating its own trade agreements for the first time in 40 … [Read more...] about MPs want ‘meaningful vote’ to be able to veto post-Brexit trade deals
Guaranteed date for post-Brexit trade deal would undermine backstop…
FILE PHOTO - Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) and Defence Minister Leo Varadkar attends a news conference after a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw DUBLIN (Reuters) - The European Union refused a British request for a legal guarantee that a post-Brexit trade deal would go into effect in 2021 as it would have potentially rendered the Northern Ireland backstop inoperable, Ireland’s prime minister said on Wednesday. British Prime Minister Theresa May asked EU leaders for a guarantee that a new EU-UK trade deal would take effect in 2021 even if EU parliaments had not ratified it, Leo Varadkar told the Irish parliament. “If we were to give it, the European Union could find itself in breach and the responsibility for avoiding a hard (Irish) border in that case would potentially shift to the European Union rather than the United Kingdom,” he said. “It would potentially render the backstop … [Read more...] about Guaranteed date for post-Brexit trade deal would undermine backstop…
No date for post-Brexit trade deal says Leo Varadkar
No date for post-Brexit trade deal says Leo Varadkar BelfastTelegraph.co.uk The Taoiseach has dismissed one of Theresa May's suggestions aimed at winning parliamentary support for her Brexit deal. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/no-date-for-postbrexit-trade-deal-says-leo-varadkar-37627640.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/article37627639.ece/6f702/AUTOCROP/h342/2018-12-15_new_46546827_I1.JPG Email The Taoiseach has dismissed one of Theresa May's suggestions aimed at winning parliamentary support for her Brexit deal. Leo Varadkar said he could not give Britain a legal assurance around a start date for a post-Brexit trade deal. Such an intervention could help the Prime Minister win over Parliament as it would clarify the date when the Irish border backstop was no longer needed. Mr Varadkar said some of Mrs May's proposals made sense and others would be "difficult". "For us to make a legal commitment to have a done deal at a … [Read more...] about No date for post-Brexit trade deal says Leo Varadkar