'It takes two to tango': Philip Hammond accuses EU leaders of 'silence' over future trade deal ahead of Brexit talks

Charm offensive: Philip Hammond and David Davis are targeting German business leaders to build support for post-Brexit trade deal
PA
Tom Powell11 January 2018
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Philip Hammond has told EU leaders it “takes two to tango” ahead of talks on a post-Brexit trade relationship.

In a speech in Berlin, the chancellor insisted there has been “relative silence” from Brussels about how it wants to trade after the UK leaves in 2019.

It comes just a day after the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier accused the UK of failing to set out detailed proposals for a future trade deal.

Both sides are currently preparing for the first round of talks in 2018, focussing on the terms of the transition period.

Mr Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis are on a charm offensive targeted at German business leaders in an attempt to build support for a post-Brexit trade deal which would be the "most ambitious in the world".

Their visit to the EU’s major economy comes amid reports of German opposition to Theresa May's plans for the post-Brexit relationship between the 27 EU members and the UK.

The Government wants a bespoke trade deal covering both goods and services after Brexit, with the UK leaving the single market and customs union.

At the Die Welt economic summit dinner, Mr Hammond said: "They say, 'It takes two to tango': Both sides need to be clear about what they want from a future relationship.

"I know the repeated complaint from Brussels has been that the UK 'hasn't made up its mind what type of relationship it wants', but in London many feel that we have little, if any, signal of what future relationship the EU27 would like to have with a post-Brexit Britain.”

He added that many commenters mistakenly view the issue of a future trade deal as something only the UK can resolve.

"By signalling a willingness to work together in a spirit of pragmatic co-operation on a future, mutually beneficial, partnership… the EU will send a message to the British people which will resonate as they consider the options for their future,” concluded Mr Hammond.

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