Downing Street has insisted that the UK will still leave the customs union, the European Union’s trade regime, ahead of a key vote on the issue.
Theresa May's government faced their first defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill in the House of Lords last week when peers voted in favour staying in the customs union.
However, the government is facing down the pressure as lawmakers prepare to debate the proposal on Thursday.
“We don’t think staying in a customs union is the right thing to do and it isn’t government policy to do so,” a Downing Street source said.
Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt reaffirmed the government’s position, telling BBC television on Monday that Mrs May’s position had been “very, very clear”.
“She has said that we are not going to be part of the customs union or any customs union. That position hasn’t changed and Downing Street have been clear about that this morning,” he said.
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Read more:
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EU leaders agree Brexit guidelines but set deadline on Ireland
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The customs union sets tariffs for all EU member states meaning goods can be moved from one country to another within the bloc without further taxes being imposed.
However, Mrs May said she wants to leave the trade regime, claiming the UK can make better trade agreements with countries such as the US and Australia outside the bloc.
Some business leaders have warned the move could damage cross-border trade, while Brussels believes the UK staying in the arrangement could help solve the Irish border issue.
Eurosceptic members of the prime minister’s ruling Conservative Party were said to be worried Mrs May would break her promise on leaving the customs union, according to reports on Sunday evening.
A senior government official said Brexiteers in the government were fearful the prime minister might make a u-turn on the issue if parliament rejects her withdrawal plans.
Mrs May is set to hold a meeting of her inner cabinet on Wednesday where Brexit-supporting ministers are likely to press the issue of leaving the customs union.
Foreign secretary and Leave supporter Boris Johnson has warned that not exiting the trade regime would be worse than “no Brexit at all”.
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
Frida%20
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Company%20Profile
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Structural%20weaknesses%20facing%20Israel%20economy
%3Cp%3E1.%20Labour%20productivity%20is%20lower%20than%20the%20average%20of%20the%20developed%20economies%2C%20particularly%20in%20the%20non-tradable%20industries.%3Cbr%3E2.%20The%20low%20level%20of%20basic%20skills%20among%20workers%20and%20the%20high%20level%20of%20inequality%20between%20those%20with%20various%20skills.%3Cbr%3E3.%20Low%20employment%20rates%2C%20particularly%20among%20Arab%20women%20and%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jewish%20men.%3Cbr%3E4.%20A%20lack%20of%20basic%20knowledge%20required%20for%20integration%20into%20the%20labour%20force%2C%20due%20to%20the%20lack%20of%20core%20curriculum%20studies%20in%20schools%20for%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jews.%3Cbr%3E5.%20A%20need%20to%20upgrade%20and%20expand%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20particularly%20mass%20transit%20infrastructure.%3Cbr%3E6.%20The%20poverty%20rate%20at%20more%20than%20double%20the%20OECD%20average.%3Cbr%3E7.%20Population%20growth%20of%20about%202%20per%20cent%20per%20year%2C%20compared%20to%200.6%20per%20cent%20OECD%20average%20posing%20challenge%20for%20fiscal%20policy%20and%20underpinning%20pressure%20on%20education%2C%20health%20care%2C%20welfare%20housing%20and%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20which%20will%20increase%20in%20the%20coming%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Letter%20Writer
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
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- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Imperial%20Island%3A%20A%20History%20of%20Empire%20in%20Modern%20Britain
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
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