[Cronos]

And you are flat out wrong about "they cannot make trade deals with others" -- under the terms of the agreement, they can -- "We will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify new trade deals, but they won’t come in to force until the end of the transition or implementation period on 31 December 2020 (or later if the transition period is extended). That means the UK government can do everything needed to prepare separate trade deals with other countries which would start on 1 January 2021. This was agreed as part of the withdrawal deal."

They have to follow EU trade rules DURING the transition period -- which they can end anytime. They can freely trade with the EU in goods and services with no tariffs at all

How is this different from being a member? It isn't - because it's a transition period until 2020 - for the UK to wrap up its dealings and leave.

did you even really read the withdrawal agreement as opposed to what others said the agreement was about?

[FLT-bird]

You’re conveniently forgetting about the so-called “backstop”.