UK urges EU to consider goods and services together in Brexit proposals

LONDON - 21 Aug 2017:Britain urged the European Union on Monday to not separate goods from services in any Brexit deal, setting out two new position papers to try to convince the bloc to move to a second phase of negotiations on future ties.

Britain set out that it wanted goods on the market before it leaves the bloc to continue to be sold without additional requirements, a move Brexit minister David Davis said would "help give businesses and consumers certainty and confidence".

In a statement, his ministry set out three more principles including measures to avoid unnecessary duplication of compliance activities and to facilitate the continued oversight of products.

But in a departure from the EU's proposals so far, the paper said the provision of goods and services should be treated as one - for example, a maintenance contract that comes with the sale of an elevator - rather than as separate issues.