Cabinet row erupted over claims import tariffs will be cut by 90 per cent under No Deal Brexit

Trade Secretary Liam Fox attacked Philip Hammond for delaying the bombshell announcement on how much import duties for foreign goods will be if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.

But he revealed the Treasury was blocking the announcement.

World Trade Organisation rules state that under a no deal Brexit Britain must apply the same tariffs to all incoming goods – regardless of which country they come from.

In a further Cabinet split, the Remainer Business Secretary Greg Clark yesterday said the new tariffs schedules will be kept secret unless MPs vote for a no deal Brexit next week.

He repeatedly refused to deny reports that tariffs on up to 90 per cent of imports will be cut.

Mr Clark told the Today programme: “Once we knew that we were leaving without a deal on the 29th of March.”

But exposing the growing Cabinet rift over the decision, Mr Fox told the Commons Trade committee that it would be “beneficial” to publish the tariffs before MPs vote on a no deal outcome.

He said: “My personal preference is that we would know that information before we take a decision on a no-deal outcome. But I am not in a position to guarantee that would happen.”

Blaming Mr Hammond for the delay, Mr Fox said it was “a Treasury responsibility.”

He added: “I think it would be beneficial for us to have that information in front of us but I’m unable to make a decision on behalf of the government as that does not fall within my departmental responsibility.”

The Trade Secretary refused to rule out backing a no deal Brexit if Theresa May’s deal is voted down by MPs on Tuesday.

Mr Fox said no deal was “hugely sub-optimal, compared to getting a deal” but asked whether the he would back no deal in the vote scheduled for the following day if the agreement fails, he said: “Potentially all things are possible.”


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