EU member States are determined to curtail Britain’s ability to hand out State money to prized industries as a key price for agreeing a trade deal, according to senior European diplomats, opening up a major battleground in the post-Brexit negotiations, reported the Financial Times.
Brussels, whose negotiating team will be headed by Michel Barnier, will insist that the UK sticks especially closely to EU State aid rules when it kicks off what are set to be fraught future relationship negotiations with Britain soon after Brexit day on Friday, January 31.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson last November caused concern in Brussels when he announced plans to make it “faster and easier” for the UK government to intervene in failing industries after Brexit.
He also said he would “fundamentally change” public procurement rules to “back British business.” Britain’s former ambassador to the EU Ivan Rogers claimed the idea appeared to mimic Donald Trump’s “Buy American” policy.
But the EU sees State aid as one of the most sensitive parts of the “level playing field” of common rules and standards that it says Britain must adhere to if it wants any trade deal — and it plans to impose requirements that go far beyond those demanded of other trading partners in this area.
Full Content: Financial Times
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
T-Mobile’s Acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation Receives FCC Approval
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
UK Regulator Announces Two New Senior Executive Appointments
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
Paramount Global and Skydance Media Near Merger Deal, Eyeing CEO Change
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
BHP Unveils £31bn Mining Megamerger Proposal with Anglo American
Apr 25, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
ByteDance Prefers Shutdown Over Sale of TikTok Amid US Ban Threats
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI