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LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday praised achieving what he called “the biggest trade deal yet” with the European Union, saying Britain had regained control of its laws. , borders and fishing waters.
“So I am very pleased to tell you this afternoon that we have completed the largest trade deal yet, worth £ 660 billion a year, a comprehensive Canada-style free trade agreement between the UK and the EU.” he said at a press conference. .
READ: UK and EU reach post-Brexit trade deal
Former British prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, who both resigned over Brexit in recent years, called the news of a trade deal with the European Union “very welcome” on Thursday.
“The trade deal is very welcome,” Cameron said on Twitter, adding that it was “good to end a difficult year with positive news.”
In her own message, May added: “Very good news that the UK and the EU have reached an agreement on the terms of an agreement, one that gives business confidence and helps keep trade flowing.”
The opposition British Labor Party will back the trade deal, Labor leader Keir Starmer said on Thursday.
“When this deal goes to parliament, Labor will accept it and vote on it,” Starmer said. “At a time of such national importance, it is not credible that the Labor Party is on the sidelines.”
But Starmer said he could only justify voting for the deal because it was better than the alternative: a disruptive break with the EU on December 31 that would worsen the economic damage of leaving the bloc.
“The deal is a weak deal,” he said. “It does not provide adequate protections for British manufacturing, our financial services, creative industries or labor rights. It is not the deal the government promised.”
