Britain to spend £700m to keep trade flowing

The UK is still in talks with the European Union about a political and trade deal from 2021

UK cabinet minister Michael Gove played down prospects of a trade deal with the European Union despite 'hopeful signs'. Reuters

Britain will spend £705 million on border infrastructure to help keep trade flowing after its transition deal with the European Union expires at the end of the year, Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove said on Sunday.

The funding includes £470m to build port and inland infrastructure, including in the south-east of England to serve major freight crossings to France.

“There will be specific pieces of infrastructure that we put in place in order to smooth the flow of traffic,” Mr Gove told the BBC.

Britain, which is still in talks with the European Union about a post-Brexit trade deal, said it would shortly set out in detail how the British-EU border would operate.

Mr Gove's cabinet colleague, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, in a leaked letter published by Business Insider, voiced concerns about legal challenges to the border proposals and the risk that ports will not be ready in time.

Asked whether Britain's borders would be ready and secure by the end of the year, Mr Gove said he thought they would be. He said there had been "movement" in the negotiations between Britain and the EU about a post-transition trade deal.

“There are hopeful signs, but I wouldn't want to be over-enthusiastic,” he said.