Barnier: Leaving customs union will cause barriers to trade

PA

Theresa May's decision to leave the EU's customs union will cause "unavoidable" barriers to trade, Michel Barnier has warned.

The European Union's chief negotiator visited Downing Street for talks with Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis in which he pushed for greater clarity about the UK's approach to the next phase of the process.

His visit to London came as Number 10 ruled out remaining in a customs union with the EU after Brexit.

Michel Barnier was pushing for greater clarity about the UK's approach to the next phase of Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Michel Barnier was pushing for greater clarity about the UK's approach to the next phase of Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Barnier said that "without a customs union and outside the single market", barriers to trade in goods and services "are unavoidable".

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