Burnham to raise Chinese imports in final days of Brexit reset talks

Britain shares Europe's problem with Chinese imports, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Thursday, as he pushes for Britain to be included in the bloc's Made in Europe rules in the final run-up to Brexit reset talks with Brussels.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Dublin, Burnham said: 'On Made in Europe, Europe's issue is Britain's issue, which is obviously, particularly imports from China, causing the problem.'

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Brexit Minister Hamish Falconer traveled to Brussels earlier this week to press for assurances that Britain will be included in the incoming legislation, which risks shutting UK manufacturers out of key European supply chains. The plan would give European industry preferential treatment.

Burnham held a series of meetings with European leaders, many of them for the first time, on Thursday as he sought to build support for a closer relationship with the bloc.

He also met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. After their bilateral meeting, he said Britain is serious about delivering on its commitment to closer ties, but that the next move is up to Brussels.

'We've had a good day but we've got a big week ahead of us,' Burnham said. 'The deal is not done. There'll be some long nights ahead in the next seven days.'

Next week's negotiations are expected to cover a new agri-food agreement, linking the UK and EU emissions trading systems, and a youth mobility scheme.

Significant hurdles remain, including the terms of any youth mobility deal, Britain's access to the EU's Made in Europe initiative, and a potential reduction in tuition fees for EU students studying at UK universities.