Editor

I read with great interest the letter from Mr J L Thomas, (Cambrian News Letters, 29 October.

As a committed Brexiteer, I agree with his comment that a trade deal with the EU is most desirable - but not at any price.

As a result of the 2016 referendum our citizens voted to leave the EU and we did so at the end of last year. A one-year transition period was agreed to allow negotiations regarding trade etc, whilst we still remained locked into all EU budgets and regulations. This terminates on 31 December, so from 1 January 2021 we will become, once again a totally independent coastal state with complete control over our trade, land and sea borders.

The EU does not seem to be able to accept this fact, as their chief negotiator Michele Barnier demands that any deal would be subject to three main agreements.

1. Full EU fishing access to all our waters in perpetuity i.e. forever;

2. Level playing field. This means the UK government and businesses must comply with all EU practices including state aid provision to prevent unfair UK advantages over EU. In practice this means that whatever rules or changes to rules the EU decide in Brussels the UK must adopt.

3. Any disagreements that may occur in the future between UK/ EU regarding the above two points shall be overseen by the EU’s European Court of Justice i.e. a foreign court.

As an independent nation, these main EU aims are totally unacceptable and whilst a trade deal is always the most sought after solution, if it means we are still tied to the EU apron strings then it must be resisted at all costs, as the price is too high and it is not what the voters in the referendum voted for. The EU must grow up and accept this.

Remember that only nations that have been conquered by foreign forces, lose control of their coastal waters, the right to operate their own commerce in their own way and allow a foreign court to pass judgement on their internal affairs.

Alan Hansell Gorslwyd, Trefenter

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