The Government published a White Paper on the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU following a meeting at Chequers.

David Burton, the chairman of the Chamber’s Brexit Club, says it gives business some idea of the direction of travel but that it has left little time to negotiate the plan with the EU.

He said: “We welcome, at last, some degree of clarity on how the UK Government sees our future trading relationship with Europe and we welcome the emphasis placed on keeping frictionless trade with the EU.

“However, we have got to the point now where time is very much of the essence and we need to get on and negotiate this plan with the EU. The issue we have is there is very little time.

“This plan should have been published straight after the referendum – in fact it would have been even more useful to have had a plan before the vote!

“But, as businesses, we have to be practical and pragmatic. We have reached this stage and we now urge both the UK and EU to move at speed with the negotiations that the agreed version of our future trading relationship can be established and all the necessary work for the transition put into action.

“Business is ready, willing and able to support those discussions to ensure we get the best deal possible that ensures that trade remains at the heart of our relationship with the EU.”

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