Barnier’s ‘ludicrous threat’ to obstruct food trade would relegate UK behind Afghanistan in imports queue

MICHEL BARNIER has been accused of making “explicit” threats to block the export of British food products to the European Union, in a move that could relegate the UK below countries such as Afghanistan.

Government sources have described the threat, made publicly by the EU’S chief negotiator, as “ludicrous”.

They also pointed out that due to Northern Ireland being subject to EU food rules under the Withdrawal Agreement, it could mean complications for goods heading from Great Britain to the province in the event of no deal.

However, despite mounting tensions, the Prime Minister’s spokesman insisted that a trade deal was still possible by next month’s UK deadline.

Mr Barnier hinted on Thursday that Brussels could refuse to add the UK to a list of non-eu countries that can import agricultural goods into its territory after the transition period. Third countries which have been permitted to export certain products of animal origin – such as seafood – include Angola, the Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan and Guatemala.

No 10 had always expected to be added to the third country list regardless of whether a trade deal was struck.

But after the eighth round of trade deal talks in London yesterday, Mr Barnier said there were still “many uncertainties” about Britain’s new food standards regime.

“More clarity is needed for the EU to do the assessment for the third-country listing of the UK,” he added.

EU officials have also told The Daily Telegraph that the UK has failed to provide the necessary information on its food standards for listing to be approved. Government sources deny this.

Animal exports are worth £5billion to the UK annually and a senior Whitehall source said: “It’s ludicrous that they would consider not granting us this. We are starting from a place of alignment because our food standards are the same as theirs.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said a post-brexit free trade deal with the EU was still possible, providing Brussels showed more “realism” in areas such as on fishing rights and state aid rules.

“What we have been asking for is for more realism on the EU side about what it means for the UK to have left the EU and to once again be a sovereign nation,” he said.

‘It’s ludicrous ... we are starting from a place of alignment because our food standards are the same’