Unilaterally drop all import tariffs.
It doesn't look like anything to me. Today most people would react like Bernard encountering something he couldn't comprehend. But like Bernard, we need to quickly learn what it means, and more importantly, what happens next.
There exists a fanatical section of the right. Not bad, but fanatical nonetheless. They believe that the way the world conducts free trade is wrong. They believe that there exists a way to move the poorest of this world out of poverty, whilst making the richest even richer. It's a simple idea, tried in only a few places, on only a few occasions, but theoretically, they say, the idea is economically sound. And the idea, is this.
Don't negotiate free trade deals at all. Instead, drop all import tariffs completely. And let the rest of the world do what they may.
That benefits those working in a sweatshop in India as, suddenly, there is less tax on the shirts they make. Maybe they'll make a few extra pence per day on their toils. It benefits those working in a Chinese steel foundry as, suddenly, their steel is undercutting that made in the UK. It benefits the service sectors of the UK economy as, suddenly, goods are flooding the UK market made cheaply from around the world. On the other hand, it's catastrophic for the UK manufacturing sector as there is little advantage (other than the cheaper price of steel) to manufacturing goods in the UK, where there is no free trade agreement with the rest of the West (and therefore tariffs on exports), compared to manufacturing goods in other countries that do. Still, the fanatics say, economically it's theoretically advantageous to just unilaterally cut import tariffs altogether, much in the same way that lowering tax is good for the economy.
Jacon Rees Mogg and Dan Hannan are it's fiercest proponents, and "Global Britain" could be thought of as a right-wing code for this idea. Boris, whilst not a Unilateral-drop-tariffist isn't adverse to big ideas. Especially big ideas that can propel his career forward. Especially fantastical big ideas with little chance of going ahead that can propel his career forward quickly, and he can bin at a later date.
There is one major problem for the Unilaterists, however. Any sort of customs deal with the EU makes it impossible for the Unilateral tariff drop to take place. The UK can't accept anything and everything into her borders for free, if shes agreed to a common rule-book of goods with the EU. (Think U.S eggs). And the UK can't accept cheap Chinese steel if she has an open border with Ireland.
For this no-tariff dream to continue, they need to crush soft brexit, because a soft brexit is the end to their dream. That is why they sometimes say things like "it would be better to stay in the EU that have this deal" because within the EU, there is a chance to convince the EU of moving down this path, but with soft brexit, we are a rule taker, and cannot take the path at all.
The Unilaterists want to perform a giant experiment with the UK economy, but to do that they have to first perform an even bigger experiment with the UK economy. They need to crash us out of the EU with no customs union and preferably no trade deal, and then from there, can argue the only solution left is the radical one.
If they can't do that, a trade deal with the EU isn't the end of the dream, but a customs agreement, is.
They are fanatics. Fantasists. Over-educated theorists with no working class roots.
They also might be right. But it's a big gamble to find out.
Edit - Spelling and Grammar. It's late.