UK in worse position than before Brexit as trade talks with Canada come to nothing

The UK has halted trade talks with Canada, with discussions breaking down after a disagreement over beef and cheese.

- Jamie Grierson Agencies

The two countries have been negotiating for the past two years in the wake of Britain leaving the European Union, with trade continuing under the same deal brokered when the UK was a member of the bloc.

A UK government spokesperson said: "We have always said we will only negotiate trade deals that deliver for the British people. And we reserve the right to pause negotiations with any country if progress is not being made.

"We remain open to restarting talks with Canada in the future to build a stronger trading relationship that benefits businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic."

The talks, which started in March 2022, are among a number of post-Brexit negotiations. The previous agreement had allowed the UK to continue to sell cars and cheese in Canada without it charging import tax. However, Canada's government has been facing pressure from the beef industry and domestic cheesemakers.