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A comprehensive trade deal with Norway is at risk of being lost amid a move to block any agreement by the country’s Christian Democrat party (Krf). The Krf fear any trade deal with the UK may impact farmers in Norway and put them out of business due to the wave of British meat and cheese. One insider of the party warned there was no goodwill from the Krf to agree to a tariff-free regime.
Indeed, the insider insisted the UK should not be rewarded with a trade deal after leaving the EU.
The insider told City AM: “A general sentiment within the Krf party that the UK should not be rewarded.
“The party realises the Norwegian market is small, but highly attractive for UK exporters, as prices are high and consumers have a strong purchasing power.”
However, some businesses have warned time is running out to reach an agreement before May 28.
If a deal is not agreed by then, there will not be enough time to agree to the legislation in parliament ahead of the national elections in September.
Despite the block from the Krf party, the UK is Norway’s most important trading partner with any deal estimated at £20billion.
The UK and Norway are operating under a temporary deal which was signed in December.
The deal covers the majority of sectors bar the services area.
7.37am update: Boris Johnson is ‘caught in the EU’s web’ – his 15-year schedule will kill Australia deal
Boris Johnson’s “lousy” Withdrawal Agreement is the root cause of all the wrangling over a proposed trade deal with Australia, former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has warned.
And he has even suggested Mr Johnson was trying to “kill” the deal to avoid setting the UK on a collision course with Brussels.
Mr Habib was speaking after International Trade Secretary Liz Truss offered Australia a deal whereby both countries would phase out taxes on imports over a 15-year period.
Mr Habib told Express.co.uk: “The UK’s failure so far to do a tariff and quota-free trade deal with Australia has nothing to do with the threat this would pose to British farmers.
“It is not because Remainers are putting a spanner in the works.
“It is a direct result of the lousy Withdrawal Agreement (WA), Boris’s Irish Sea border and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU.”
7.21am update: UK-Norway deal on the ropes following bitter internal plot
A trade deal with Norway, estimated at £20billion, may be delayed after the country’s Christian Democrats party (Krf) moved to block any agreement.
According to City AM, one party insider revealed any deal may undercut Norweigian farmers due to the influx of British meat into the country.
Indeed, the insider claimed the UK should not be rewarded with a zero-tariff deal after leaving the EU.
The insider said: “A general sentiment within the Krf party that the UK should not be rewarded.
“The party realises the Norwegian market is small, but highly attractive for UK exporters, as prices are high and consumers have a strong purchasing power.”
Any deal must be agreed by May 28 in order for it to then be agreed ahead of the national elections in September.
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