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- Shortly before the next round of Brexit talks on Tuesday, the EU sees the prospects for a trade deal increasingly bleak.
- “So far there has been absolutely no movement on the British side in the negotiations,” said an EU diplomat.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously called for a deal before October 15.
- At the same time, Johnson stressed that Britain “would do very well” even without a deal.
The EU warns of serious economic consequences if a trade deal with Britain is unsuccessful. Since the transition period after the UK leaves the EU ends on December 31, tariffs should be introduced on both sides on January 1. Many questions would remain open, such as fishing rules, for the export of financial services from Great Britain or the exchange of data to combat crime.
If the British government wanted to jump off the edge of the cliff, the EU could not help it, said an EU diplomat in Brussels. He urged the British side to act soon, otherwise a non-agreement threatens all negative consequences.
Johnson wants an early deal
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously asked for an agreement in negotiations with the EU before October 15. At the same time, Johnson stressed that future no-contract relationships would be “a good result for the UK.”
A statement by Johnson said: “We will have full control over our laws, our rules and our fishing grounds. We will be free to sign trade agreements with any country in the world. And the result will be very good for us.
Britain’s top negotiator, David Frost, was even sharper in tone Sunday: He fully agreed with Johnson that Britain had nothing to fear from a no-deal Brexit, he told the Mail on Sunday. “I don’t think we’re scared of that in any way,” Frost said in an interview.
I don’t think we are afraid of a no-deal in any way.
Hard break not excluded
EU negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to be in London on Tuesday. Britain left the EU at the end of January. In a transitional phase until the end of the year, the country continues to belong to the EU internal market and to the customs union, so almost nothing has changed in everyday life. If no contract on future relationships is successful, there could be a sharp economic break with tariffs and other trade barriers in early 2021.
