Goods, services must be treated together in Brexit talks, says the UK
London — Britain urged the EU on Monday not to separate goods from their services in Brexit talks, further outlining its negotiating stance to try to nudge discussions forward to a second phase. In two position papers — one on goods and the other on confidentiality — the government set out more proposals that it said would help "give businesses and consumers certainty and confidence" after Britain left the bloc. Much of what it proposed was in line with the EU’s own policy document published earlier in 2017. But in one departure, Britain’s paper said the provision of goods and services should be treated as one. John Foster, director of campaigns at business lobby CBI, called the government’s position "a significant improvement upon the EU’s current proposal", but said the only way to offer companies certainty was to agree interim arrangements. "The simplest way to achieve that is for the UK to stay in the single market and a customs union until a comprehensive new deal is in force."...
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