“Since when did free voluntary trade between two people or two countries require kowtowing to the European Parliament and its bureaucrats?”
Exactly. I was about to post that thought.
Because if you don’t follow the EU’s edicts on social policy, environmental policy and economic policy your production cost for any goods you produce are most likely going to be less than those of an EU member.
This will be an unfair advantage for which you must be punished or you will not get to participate in the “EU Free Market”