UK considers potential shortcut on trade deals post-Brexit

Efta, set up in 1960, consists of Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland.The UK is examining a potential shortcut to securing a raft of critical free trade deals, giving it potential breathing space to negotiate its own agreements after it leaves the EU.The proposal, involving an associate membership of the European Free Trade Association, could allow ministers to sign up to Efta’s existing free trade deals outside the EU, rather than negotiate them from scratch or fall back on bare