UK's Johnson tells EU to agree trade deal by Oct 15 or 'move on'
07 September, 2020
Britain has set a deadline of Oct 15 to strike a free-trade manage europe, and if none is agreed both sides should "accept that and move on", UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will say on Monday (Sep 7).
Britain left the EU on Jan 31 but there's been little progress on a fresh trade deal after a status-quo transition arrangement leads to December.
Talks, which have stalled over Britain's insistence that it has full autonomy over state aid and fishing, are because of resume in London on Tuesday.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said an agreement on trade would have to be reached urgently and he blamed the stalemate on Britain's attitude.
Johnson will say there is absolutely no sense in thinking about timelines beyond Oct 15.
"If we can not agree by then, then I do not see that you will have a free trade agreement between us, and we have to both accept that and move on," he will say, according to comments released by his office.
If no deal is agreed, Britain could have a trading relationship with the bloc like Australia's, which will be "an excellent outcome", Johnson will say.
"As a government we are preparing, at our borders and at our ports, to be equipped for it," he'll say. "We will have full control over our laws, our rules, and our fishing waters."
In that case, Britain would be prepared to find sensible accommodation with the bloc on practical issues such as for example flights, lorry transport or scientific cooperation, based on the excerpts.
UK Brexit negotiator David Frost said on Sunday Britain was not scared of a no-deal exit towards the end of the year.
Johnson will say there continues to be a deal to be enjoyed based on a standard free trade agreement if the EU is preparing to rethink its current position.
"But we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what this means to be an independent country to get it," he'll say.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com