UK could join tariff-free trade deal with EU, hints minister

LABOUR faces claims it could undermine the Brexit deal after the Business Secretary said the UK may join a Europe-wide customs scheme.

- By Katie Harris

Jonathan Reynolds insisted Britain becoming part of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention would not cross Sir Keir Starmer's "red lines" over relations with Brussels.

His comments came after the bloc's trade chief Maros Sefcovic suggested we could join the arrangement, which allows for tariff-free trade of goods across Europe, as well as some North African and Middle East nations.

From the Davos summit - which Mr Reynolds is attending with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves - he told the BBC that Mr Sefcovic's comments were "incredibly positive".

He suggested that joining the arrangement could be acceptable as it "is not a customs union".

Alignment