Burnham presses Brussels to fold UK into Made in Europe before reset talks

Britain shares Europe's problem with Chinese imports, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in Dublin on Thursday, as he pressed for UK manufacturers to be covered by the bloc's Made in Europe rules in the final week before Brexit reset talks.

Burnham told reporters on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit that "Europe's issue is Britain's issue" particularly regarding imports from China, which he said was causing the problem.

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Brexit Minister Hamish Falconer travelled to Brussels earlier this week to seek assurances that Britain will be included in the incoming legislation, which risks shutting UK manufacturers out of key European supply chains.

Burnham met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and a series of other European leaders, many for the first time. "We've had a good day but we've got a big week ahead of us," he said. He added that "the deal is not done" and warned there would be some long nights in the next seven days.

He said Britain was serious about delivering closer ties but that the next move belonged to Brussels. Burnham stated he was "very serious about honoring the manifesto which said deeper ties," but added that they would need to see what Europe says in response.

Next week's negotiations are expected to cover a new agri-food agreement and a youth mobility scheme, with talks also on linking the UK and EU emissions trading systems. Hurdles remain over the terms of any youth mobility deal and Britain's access to Made in Europe. A potential reduction in tuition fees for EU students at UK universities is also on the table.