Plus plus plus How the three positives are interpreted

What Donald Tusk means by Canada +++

The Eu-canada trade deal removed tariffs on many but not all goods. When Mr Tusk says “+++” he means a deal superior to the Eu-canada agreement as it removes tariffs on all goods and adds two factors not normally offered as part of a free trade deal: security and foreign policy cooperation.

This would be closer than any free trade deal struck by the EU with a non-eu country. The EU believes this is generous, while the UK could argue it does not take Britain’s 40 years of EU membership into account. Mr Tusk says the UK will get an unprecedented trade deal but it will still be inferior to the benefits of EU membership. It will not create frictionless trade, as the EU says that can only happen between members of the single market, who are subject to uniform rules.

What Brexiteers mean by Canada +++

Brexiteers hope that a Canada +++ deal would allow Britain to set its own independent trade policy and diverge from EU rules and regulation, winning a valuable competitive advantage, while still retaining a trading relationship with as little friction as possible between the bloc and the UK.

However, the EU views this as cherry-picking and insists that unfettered access to the market must be accompanied by adherence to EU law, including the European Court of Justice, to ensure fair competition.

Brexiteers believe that technology can speed up trade at borders, making it effectively frictionless, and leave Britain free to control its borders and make its own laws.