Johnson says UK must quit customs union completely for trade boost

Boris Johnson has stressed the need for the UK to come “fully out” of the EU customs union if the UK is to be a global trading nation.

The Foreign Secretary’s latest intervention comes after influential backbench Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-mogg called on Theresa May to take a tougher line with Brussels in the negotiations.

Mr Johnson said that his recent trip to Latin America – during which he urged the Prime Minister to “get on with it” and take Britain out of the customs union “as fast as is reasonably possible” – made it clear that potential trading partners wanted the UK out of the EU tariffs arrangement.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said: “Now is our moment not to be less European – we can do a great free trade deal with the EU that will benefit both sides – but to be truly global again.”

He said that it was time to create deals with the “dynamic countries” he had visited “but our Latin American partners are emphatic: if this is to work, we must come fully out of the EU customs union”.

If the UK is to be a “valid trading partner, then we must take back control – as the PM has said – of our tariff schedules, and do deals that are unhindered and uncomplicated”.