The British Government has said it is prepared to walk away from trade talks with the EU in June.

Downing Street has published its negotiating mandate for the next round of talks this morning.

The mandate rejects any form a regulatory alignment with Europe and warns that the UK will not accept any role for the European Court of Justice in resolving disputes.

The EU has warned that it will not sign up to an agreement that does not ensure a “level playing field” for businesses on both sides – something Mr Johnson signed up to in the political declaration at the end of the Brexit negotiations.

Political declaration

In the declaration, both sides accepted the need for “robust commitments to ensure a level playing field” on things like environmental standards, workers rights and state subsidies.

Downing Street is now saying that this would restrict the UKs sovereignty in a manner that was not imposed on the US, Canada and Mexico in their trade deals.

The EU has warned that it cannot offer the UK a deal similar to those nations because it is geographically too close to Europe.

Trade talks

Announcing the UK strategy this morning, senior UK minister Michael Gove said the UK will not accept common rules in order to receive preferential trading access to Europe.

“We will not accept nor agree to any obligations where our laws are aligned with the EU or the EU’s institutions – including the court of justice,” he said.

“Instead, each party will respect the other’s independence and the right to manage its own borders, immigration policy and taxes.”

Deal

The UK is asking for a deal that does not include any tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions on manufactured or agricultural goods.

It is saying that it does not want competition or subsidies to be subject to any dispute resolution mechanism.

The EU has said any deal must “uphold common high standards and corresponding high standards over time with EU standards as a reference point.”

This should apply in “areas of state aid, competition, state-owned enterprises, social and employment standards, environmental standards, climate change, relevant tax matters and other regulatory measures and practices in these areas.”

Mr Gove said the negotiations will be undertaken with “full respect” to the Northern Ireland protocol – which ensures there will be no return to a hard border in Ireland.

Downing Street said it will prepare to walk away from the talks if the “broad outline” is not in place by June.