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.
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.