EU in fairness to them and their ways cannot afford to allow UK a FTA no strings. They need alignment to maintain their ludicrous claim on fishing, and suppress our ability to prosper beyond their failing euro economy.
Keeping UK tied to alignment, laws and their infringement process, or ECJ, maintains control, it suppressed UK ability bailout companies, soften economic blows & the ultimate issue competition. The biggest EU fear! If they control UK indefinitely, they save the EU. Because
Other states such as Italy, France NL will see that there are mutual deals to be had beyond the EU at no yearly cost. That's why EU have warned states not to try to negotiate deals independant .
of them. Its about fear of competition, break away states (net contributors) the fiscal strong states who will wake up one day to the failing evolving super project. They don't fear break away states that are fiscally poor, such as Greece, Bulgaria etc,
They fear those who could see the prosperity of an ex member state and lose member states and breakdown of the euro zone. That's why #NoDealBrexit is very important to UK. Its not about trading its bigger game than that. Anything else is ignorance.