EU Ready to Offer U.K. ‘Super-Charged’ Free-Trade Deal
- Proposal will incorporate 30%-40% of U.K. plan, officials say
- Deal on divorce closer but Irish border still not resolved
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The European Union is set to offer the U.K. a free-trade deal deeper than any agreement that’s gone before, but will reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s demand for “frictionless trade," according to EU diplomats.
The EU’s vision for future ties with Britain will contain “about 30-40 percent” of May’s pitch for a wide-ranging trade and security deal, according to two of the diplomats. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier’s team gave European ambassadors an outline of his proposal on Friday, and will formally present it to them -- at least in part -- on Wednesday.