The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson speaks during the Prime Minister’s session at the House of Commons in London on September 4, 2019.
Jessica Taylor | UK Parliament | Reuters
LONDON – UK lawmakers have voted to approve the historic Brexit trade deal, which will take effect on New Year’s Day.
The House of Commons is, as expected, in favor of the agreement, and will leave the country on Thursday at 11pm local time from its Brexit transition period with the EU.
Members of parliament backed the deal by 521 votes to 73 before the December 31 deadline. 448 is the majority. The bill will now go to the House of Lords, who are also expected to support it before obtaining royal assent.
The opposition Labor Party backed the deal despite concerns, but Labor and the ruling Conservative Party had some rebellious legislators.
The 1,246-page document, details of which have been published on the UK government’s website, and the last-minute negotiations had little time left before any proper verification before the deadline.
Scotland’s first prime minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has spoken out against the agreement, and the UK’s fishing industry has responded by accusing British Prime Minister Boris John of protecting only a “fraction” of what the government has the right to do under international law. Repeatedly said it would protect on behalf of the UK fishing industry. “
Almost 47 years after joining the European Union, Britain officially left the group on January 1, 2020. In doing so, it became the first nation to leave the EU. However, it agrees to continue complying with European rules until the end of 2020 so that it can negotiate friendly trade conditions with 27 other countries.
On the eve of Christmas, the two sides reached a “zero tariff-zero quota deal” to facilitate trade in goods on the English Channel. It will bring relief to exporters on both sides who would have faced tar tariffs and costs if the deal had not been struck.
The two sides have been engaged in intense talks since March to establish how trade will run from January. On Monday, EU ambassadors approved an interim application for the deal after working over the Christmas holidays. The EU Parliament will vote on the agreement next month.
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