The UK Labour government, which had rejected a suggestion of a customs agreement with EU Member States on Thursday, stated on Sunday it is willing to "consider proposals," cautiously opening the door to post-Brexit trade rapprochement.
European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said earlier this week on the BBC that the EU was ready to "consider" integrating the UK into this agreement with certain Member States, Mediterranean countries and Balkan nations.
The UK has "no plans to join" such an agreement, said Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for Post-Brexit Relations with the EU, on Thursday.
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves – one of the government's key figures – nuanced her colleague's comments.
"It was very interesting to see Maroš Šefčovič suggest this week that Britain could be welcome in this customs framework," the Chancellor of the Exchequer said.
"We are absolutely willing to look at these various proposals because we know the deal secured by the previous government does not work well enough," she added, without going into further detail.
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Since taking office six months ago, Labour leader Keir Starmer has been striving to improve relations with the EU after years of post-Brexit tensions, without reversing Brexit or re-joining the single market.
The split has complicated trade with the EU, which remains the UK's main trading partner despite a free trade agreement.
The UK, which also hopes to resume free trade discussions with Donald Trump, has signed trade deals with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore since Brexit. Negotiations with India are lagging.
In December, the UK officially joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which now has 12 members.
