The government's strategy for trade negotiations with the EU will be published on Thursday, ahead of the formal opening of talks on March 2.
The government strategy is due to be released online and presented in Parliament before the UK negotiating team heads to Brussels next month.
The plans were approved on Monday by the EU Exit Strategy [XS] committee ahead of their public unveiling. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, foreign secretary Dominic Raab and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove are just some of the ministers sitting on the committee.
A spokesperson for Number Ten said that it was a "very smooth process" agreeing a strategic plan for trade talks, with prime minister Boris Johnson confident of securing a trade deal with the bloc by the cut-off point for the transition period of December 31 2020.
Johnson has vowed not to allow for any extension to this period and has indicated more than once that he is prepared to accept no deal and default to World Trade Organization terms if required.
The EU has already outlined its own position, favouring zero tariffs but insistent that the UK must agree to a level playing field on state aid, competition, workers rights and a range of other matters.
However, UK's chief negotiator, David Frost, favours a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU, as does the prime minister, and has openly rejected the notion of agreeing to a level playing field.
Frost's opposite number, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, has since responded by pouring cold water on the prospect of a Canada-style deal, saying that the UK's proximity with the EU 27 meant that it could not be allowed to trade on such terms.
