Theresa May confirms plan to keep UK wedded to EU rules after Brexit

REUTERS/Simon Dawson

LONDON - Theresa May has confirmed her plan to keep the United Kingdom wedded to European Union rules after Brexit in a white paper published on Thursday afternoon.

The UK government has released its highly-anticipated white paper on its desired post-Brexit relationship with the EU The 100-page document follows a meeting of ministers at Chequers, the prime minister's official retreat, last week.

The white paper confirms May's policy of effectively staying in the single market for goods, meaning the UK would continue to follow EU rules and standards for the trade of goods after it has left the bloc.

It also confirms her proposed "Facilitated Customs Arrangement," a controversial customs arrangement which would see the UK collect EU tariffs on the bloc's behalf on goods before they reach the EU.

The white paper says "this new relationship needs to be broader in scope than any other that exists between the EU and a third country" and "should reflect the EU's deep history, close ties and unique starting point."

The prime minister believes remaining closely aligned with the EU in trade and customs is the only way of preserving frictionless UK-EU trade and the open border on the island of Ireland.

The white paper also confirms the UK government's wish to continue participating in a number of EU agencies in areas like medicine, aviation and chemicals.

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