One of the most controversial aspects of the UK-EU trade talks has to do with the "level playing field." Simplifying things a bit, these are the EU demands that the UK not change its regulation so as to give its producers an advantage over EU competitors. In response, the UK says it has no intention of doing this, but nevertheless it does not want its ability to regulate constrained by a UK-EU trade agreement.
The EU's proposed "Draft text of the Agreement on the New Partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom," available here, has some detailed provisions on how the EU sees the level playing field operating. It will take some time to go through them all, but for now I'll highlight just one:
PART TWO: ECONOMY AND TRADE
TITLE III: LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter two: Specific Areas of Level Playing Field and Sustainability
Section 7: Fight against climate change
...
2. A Party shall not adopt or maintain any measure that weakens or reduces the level of climate protection provided by the Party’s law and practices, and by the enforcement thereof, below the level provided by the common commitments and targets applicable in the Union and the United Kingdom at the end of the transition period, and by their enforcement.
Let me ask this question: Could a decision by an EU member state to phase out nuclear power, which could lead to a rise in carbon emissions, be covered by this provision?
