Brexit, Johnson prepares for broke-up

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has prepared his country for a harsh exit from the European Union on January 1st.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has prepared his country for a harsh exit from the European Union on January 1st. The EU clearly has no interest in a free trade agreement desired by Great Britain, as with Canada, Johnson said. Thus, a relationship with Australia is now expected. No deal.

At the same time, Johnson left a back door in Brex's dispute to continue negotiations on a trade agreement with the EU. To do that, however, The EU must change its position, the prime minister said in a televised statement.

EU has offered further negotiations

Johnson had actually requested an agreement from the EU summit on October 15th, but this was not reached. He then reviewed the interruption of negotiations. He did not communicate a clear decision, but announced preparation for secession without agreement.

On the other hand, The EU offered Johnson intensive negotiations for the next two or three weeks, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of October or early November. At the same time, the EU summit urged concessions from London, to which the British government reacted disappointed.

Sensitive Loss Now

The negotiations have to do with a comprehensive trade agreement from 2021. Great Britain left the community in late January, but is still a member of the EU internal market and customs union during a transition period by the end of the year. Only then will economic cuts take place. Without agreement, there is the danger of customs and the establishment of high trade barriers.

The economy in both Great Britain and the EU has warned of major deformities. The losses can be felt right now.

Three Points of Negotiation

In negotiations that have continued for months, there has been almost no long-term movement. The main points of discussion from the beginning were the approach of EU fishermen to British waters and the EU's demand for equal competitive conditions in the economy, i.e. Equal environmental, social standards and subsidies.

In exchange, Great Britain would have the opportunity to sell goods on the EU internal market without customs duties and quantity restrictions. The third important point for the EU is arbitration rules, in the case a party violates the agreement. This point has recently drawn attention because a British law is expected to cancel parts of the already valid EU exit agreement. This is about special rules for the British part of Northern Ireland. Brussels reacted indignantly to so-called internal market law.

British voters voted in 2016 with a narrow majority coming out of the EU. Johnson won parliamentary elections in 2019, among other things, with the declaration that he would indeed carry out Brexit. /DW