BREXIT TALKS
Scramble to clarify EU’s mixed messages on Chequers plan
Brussels — Britain’s Brexit negotiator met his EU counterpart on Thursday as Brussels and London scramble to reconcile divorce demands ahead of October’s summit deadline. Brexit minister Dominic Raab is a regular in the EU capital, but tensions were stirred this week by reports that Europe considers his government’s exit plan to be dead in the water. Both British and European officials played down the suggestion that EU Brexit pointman Michel Barnier had dismissed Prime Minister Theresa May’s "Chequers" plan out of hand. But, as Raab and Barnier held their latest round of talks, it was clear British hopes of continuing trade in goods under a "common rulebook" will be a sticking point.
May hopes that agreeing to common quality controls for goods would allow British manufacturers to continue to trade within the EU market after Britain leaves the union in 2019. But officials in Brussels argue that unless London also retains EU rules on manufacturing and working practices after B...
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