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Three days after Brexit, Boris Johnson has decided to challenge Brussels and reiterated that his country is not willing to "align" with the rules of the European Union. The "premier" has advanced that his amibition will be to reach a Canada-style agreement, "that opens the markets but avoids the panoply of EU regulations." If this is not possible, Johnson threatens a total break, taking the so-called "Australia model" out of the hat (without a trade agreement and with sectoral agreements).

"There is no need for a trade agreement that involves the acceptance of EU rules on competitiveness, subsidies, social protection, the environment or anything similar," Johnson warned before an audience consisting mainly of businessmen, politicians and ambassadors of the EU. "Similarly, the EU cannot be forced to accept the rules of the United Kingdom either."

What Johson claims is a "same level" negotiation, at all costs preventing Brussels from playing with advantage and wanting to impose the "alignment" and supervision of the EU Court of Justice. "The United Kingdom will maintain the highest standards in all those areas, or even better, without the obligation of a treaty," Johnson said. "It is vital to emphasize this now."

The "premier" veiledly accuses the EU of retracting at this point on the political declaration included in the Brexit agreement. "We have often been told that we have to choose between full access to the single market, accepting the rules and the courts like Norway, or an ambitious trade agreement without complying with EU regulation, as is the example of Canada."

"We have chosen, and we want a trade agreement similar to that of Canada," Johnson said, without needing to remember that the Ceta agreement allows the elimination of more than 90% of tariffs . Of course, the "premier" intends to negotiate in just 10 months (talks with the EU officially start on March 3) which cost Canada seven years. Brussels has already warned in advance that it is virtually impossible to have a "comprehensive" trade agreement ready on December 31, 2020, when the transition period ends.

"If we were not successful, our trade in the future would be based on the current EU Exit Agreement," Johnson said. "It's not about choosing between" agreement or not agreement ", but if we have a relationship comparable to that of Canada or more like Australia."

The reference to the "Australia model" caused stupefaction in Brussels, which it fears is a new way of masking the dreaded "no deal" . Australia does not have a trade agreement with the EU, but simple sectoral agreements, leaving everything else under the protection of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Johnson's threat, which also aims to implement a "system of merits and points" for immigration copied from Australia, is formulated in a way that is better accepted by British public opinion.

Johnson's speech, entitled "Unlocking the British Potential," has created concerns in advance among the business class over the disruption that "non-alignment" with EU rules would entail. Hours before Johnson's speech, The Sunday Times revealed the existence of an order transmitted by the Foreign Office to its embassies ordering the total demarcation of the EU in international forums, starting with the WTO.

Boris Johnson expressed confidence that "the United Kingdom will prosper in any case," with the Canada model or the Australia model. "And of course I hope that the relationship with our neighbors goes beyond trade," he concluded. "We will seek a pragmatic agreement on security, protecting our citizens without breaking the autonomy of our respective laws."

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