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Saturday 25 January 2020 - 14:07

Boris Johnson to Use High Tariff Threat to Raise Pressure in Trade Negotiations

Story Code : 840665
Boris Johnson to Use High Tariff Threat to Raise Pressure in Trade Negotiations
Johnson and his cabinet ministers discussed using tariffs as “leverage” in an effort to accelerate trade talks at a meeting this week which could result in taxes of 30% on some types of French cheese and 10% on German cars, the newspaper reported.

In an EU exit strategy committee meeting held on Thursday, ministers agreed that the tariffs should be put out for consultation.

Ministers also agreed to prioritize Japan, US, Australia and New Zealand as “tier one” countries in negotiations and other countries as “tier two”, the newspaper added, according to Reuters.

The UK will largely replicate the EU tariff schedule which will be published and lodged at the World Trade Organization, according to the newspaper.

Johnson will lay out the negotiating plan in the first week of February, the report added, citing officials from Brussels.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that the US wants to conclude a trade deal with Britain this year.

Britain will leave EU on Jan. 31.
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