Britain has been discussing the form of a future partnership with the “27” for several months after its formal withdrawal from the European Union in January, but the talks are very difficult. Less than four months before the end of the negotiating period, the two sides’ proposals still differ significantly on many points, especially as regards competition rules and the access of EU fishermen to British waters.
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“The agreement with our European friends must come by the European Council on 15 October if it is to be in force by the end of the year,” said Prime Minister Johnson. The statement will come the day before the start of the next three-day round of negotiations. Similarly, the leader of the EU negotiating team Michel Barnier has repeatedly spoken in recent weeks.
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“If we are unable to reach an agreement by then, then I do not expect there to be a free trade agreement between us, and we should all accept it and move on,” the British Prime Minister’s pre-release statement continues.
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Johnson adds that the agreement is still possible, but on the condition that “the EU is ready to reconsider its current position” and adhere to Britain’s “sensible proposal for a standard free trade agreement”. However, the Union makes it clear that Britain’s access to its single market without harmonizing competition rules is unacceptable to it. For example, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the head of French diplomacy, accused London of a “stubborn” and “unrealistic” approach a week ago.
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The alleged British plan, reported by the Financial Times, could further complicate the negotiations. The government is reportedly finalizing a “internal market” bill that could “eliminate the legal force of parts of Britain’s EU withdrawal agreement.” In particular, it is intended to be a provision of the Brexit Agreement relating to State aid to companies and the customs regime in Northern Ireland.
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If a new partnership cannot be negotiated by the beginning of next year, tariffs and quotas under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules will complicate trade through the English Channel from January. Until the end of the ongoing Brexit transition period, Britain continues to be governed by EU law, although it is no longer formally a member of the EU.
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