Johnson “noted the desirability of a deal, but expressed his disappointment that more progress had not been made over the past two weeks”…Reports Asian Lite News
LONDON, Jan. 8, 2020 (Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London, Britain, Jan. 8, 2020. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua/IANS)
Ahead of a European Union (EU) summit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed the “desirability” of a new trade deal with the bloc, but also his disappointment that more progress had not been made.
Johnson’s comments came during a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday evening, Downing Street said in a statement.
The leaders discussed the latest state of play of the negotiations on Britain’s future relationship with the EU, reports Xinhua news agency.
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Johnson “noted the desirability of a deal, but expressed his disappointment that more progress had not been made over the past two weeks”, the statement said.
22/09/2020. London, United Kingdom. Boris Johnson address to the Nation during Covid-19. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the White Room of No10 Downing Street, addressing the Nation on Covid-19. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
“The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to hearing the outcome of the European Council and would reflect before setting out the UK’s next steps in the light of his statement of 7 September,” it said.
Johnson said last month that a future trade deal needs to be agreed by mid-October to enable it to be approved ahead of January 1, 2021.
While Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the deal needs to be ready by the end of October.
新华社照片，布鲁塞尔，2019年10月17日 （国际）欧盟宣布与英国政府就英国“脱欧”达成一致 10月17日，欧洲联盟与英国谈判的首席代表米歇尔·巴尼耶在比利时布鲁塞尔欧盟委员会总部召开新闻发布会。 当天，欧盟委员会主席容克宣布，欧盟与英国就英国“脱欧”达成一致。 新华社记者郑焕松摄 BELGIUM-BRUSSELS-EU-BREXIT-DEAL The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, attends a press conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 17, 2019. The European Union and Britain have reached a new Brexit deal, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said on Thursday on his twitter. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Both sides started the lengthy post-Brexit talks in March after the UK ended its EU membership on Januart 31, trying to secure a future trade deal before the Brexit transition period expires at the end of the year.
If there is no deal in place, the UK will trade with the EU on terms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2021.
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