London, October 29 (BNA) Britain threatened Friday to open measures over the trade dispute against France if Paris imposes sanctions on London in a rapidly deteriorating standoff over fishing rights after Britain leaves the European Union.
The warning, after France seized a British fishing boat this week, raised the stakes in a row that is part of a wider dispute over Britain’s trade arrangements with the European Union, and could severely disrupt cross-channel trade if not resolved. Reuters reported.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet French President Emmanuel Macron briefly in Rome this weekend, providing an opportunity to ease tensions. An EU official said talks between the two countries and the European Commission would continue over the weekend.
But Brexit Minister David Frost warned Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Friday that France would violate the post-Brexit free trade agreement if Paris carried out its threat to impose sanctions on Britain from Tuesday.
A British government spokesman said: “Lord Frost has made it clear that if these measures are implemented as planned on 2 November, they would put the European Union in breach of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).”
“Accordingly, the Government is considering the possibility, in the circumstances, of initiating dispute resolution procedures under the Technical Assistance Act, and other practical responses.”
Such actions are likely to include inviting an arbitration panel to decide the dispute, and may result in a request for compensation or the suspension of obligations under the FTA.
France says Britain has refused to grant its fishermen the full number of licenses to operate in British waters that France says are justified. Britain says it issues licenses to ships that can prove they have fished in UK waters.
Losing its patience, Paris said it would prevent British fishing boats from offloading in French ports, conduct additional checks on British ships’ licenses, tighten controls on trucks and boost customs and hygiene controls if talks fail.
She also hinted at the possibility of raising energy tariffs at a later date for Britain.
NS