The previous UK/'EU' FTA negotiation began on this day 62 years ago and ended in failure on 14November 1958. France demanded a common tariff UK/Six and social and economic harmonisation. It was de Gaulle's first veto and real reason was probably he saw UK as a trojan horse for

US influence in Europe.Reason for common tariff was to prevent UK access to lower cost raw http://materials.UK  only sought FTA or industrial goods not Agri http://products.UK  wished to continue Imperial Preference for cheap food along with deficiency payments for farmers

Discussion never got to Agri but France would not have accepted exclusion. The UK FTA approach was designed to retain Imperial Preference and trade it against lower US tariffs. The UK had succeeded in retaining IP despite determined US opposition through Atlantic Charter,Lend

Lease and GATT. The UK did not wish to swop Imperial Preference for European Preference and also feared final political destination of EEC. Macmillan's decision in 63 was as much because they were all out of options. Heath was arguably the only true European to hold office of PM

The failure of Doha round and proliferation of FTAs as a result opened a new door for UK after Maastricht. If current EU-UK FTA talks succeed I would argue the UK will have finally found its most desired post war destination.But at a rather large price in terms of prosperity and

most of all political influence.A kind of Switzerland with nukes. But there is no guarantee they will succeed.This time Agri is in mix as Conservatives now oppose CAP which is similar to deficiency payments except originally it was a consumer subsidy rather than taxpayer one. But

will France,Ireland etc accept unrestricted competition with lower cost US and Mercosur Agri-food. Barnier indicates progress on LPF inc State Aid but UK probably trying to retain flexibility to compensate for trade frictions. Big difference with 58 is Fisheries. That could yet

sink a potential Deal.Catch from UK waters is 50:50 UK,EU boats whereas UK catch in EU waters is only third of EU catch in UK. UK seeks huge increase in UK catch in UK waters.If equalise UK and EU reciprocal access= to huge reduction EU access UK waters.Not sure that is

compromise Macron could live with.But UK export 75% of their catch of which EU takes 75%. Fish is also tied up with Scotland as 60% UK catch landed there.Boris has cover with IMB and recent EU move on process if he wants a deal but could still go either way.