The European Union's central interest in forging a free trade agreement with
Britain is to agree common social and environmental standards and avoid a "race to the bottom", the EU chief
Brexit negotiator wrote in an opinion piece.
![EU-UK trade deal cannot allow race to the bottom: EUs Barnier](https://media.zenfs.com/en-US/reuters.com/99216920dc1a73708c0cbb8cf0f10a4f)
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson said on Friday there would be no alignment with EU rules under the terms of a trade deal he wants to strike with the bloc next year.
The EU's negotiator Michel Barnier wrote in a piece on the Project Syndicate website dated Dec. 20 that the
European Union would seek to make the most of the short time available.