In theory. I am personally of the opinion that the EU is not psychologically ready to negotiate reasonably in good faith because they still harbour the attitude and instinct that Britain must be punished for leaving the bloc and kept under tight supervision to stop us succeeding outside of the EU.
The fact that Britain has asked for a trade deal similar to the one Canada has with the EU and that this has been rejected demonstrates that the EU is not yet ready to accept that Britain has left the EU and no longer wants to be controlled by it. Until this happens, which may be some years in the future when Brexit has started to become a memory rather than a current event, they will not be able to reach an acceptable agreement that is advantageous to both sides.
Basically, I think we need to go away and leave them alone until they’ve got the tantrum out of their system before we come back and ask them if they’re ready to talk. Of course, if we do enjoy a lot of success and our economy and trade starts booming whilst their stagnates under the single currency their might not be an EU to negotiate with for much longer when the other member states start to realise that their success doesn’t hinge on being part of this monololithic bloc.
The UK has asked for more than the Canada deal.
What the UK and EU have been attempting to negotiate is something more than that enjoyed by Canada, however. Both sides say they want a “zero tariff, zero quota” agreement by the end of the year
Downing Street says the EU is offering less generous terms than are included in the Ceta deal. There are various examples including the length of stay for short-term business visitors and the lack of sector-specific provisions for key industries with particular technical barriers such as motor vehicles, medicinal products, organics and chemicals.
Johnson demanded that the EU’s chief negotiator come to London if he wanted to talk – 24 hours after Barnier had said in a press conference that he was coming to London for talks.