British PM, Trudeau discuss a bilateral free trade deal

OTTAWA — Those feeling anxious about the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the rest of the world could use a little predictability, and both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Theresa May say Canada can help.

The two countries are working toward a new bilateral free trade deal to take effect after the U.K. achieves its so-called Brexit from the European Union, the two world leaders confirmed Monday after a morning of meetings in Ottawa.

What’s more, they said, the template for that deal would be the long-heralded Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, or CETA, between Canada and the EU that comes largely into effect this week.

In an interview with the National Post Friday, UK High Commissioner Susan le Jeune d’Allegeershecque said it would be “crazy” to wait until the U.K. had left the European Union before talking to Canada about a bilateral trade agreement.

“There is no question that CETA, which eliminates well over 90 per cent of all barriers to trade between Canada and the European Union … will make an excellent basis for ensuring a smooth transition in a post-Brexit world,” Trudeau told a joint news conference.

The British prime minister agreed that using the Canada-EU agreement as the basis for a forthcoming new bilateral deal makes sense for everyone.

“We want to ensure that for businesses and individuals, that there is as smooth a changeover, when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, as possible; we want to see as little disruption to economies and to people’s lives,” said May.