EU finalizes post-Brexit trade deal

The EU has ratified the bitterly debated trade deal between the bloc and its former member, Britain. The bare bones deal was agreed lastminute in December last year.

The European Parliament has given its formal approval of the trade deal agreement between the EU and the UK, officials said Wednesday.

The vote took place late Tuesday and its passing came as no surprise with 660 votes in favor and only 5 against, but many EU lawmakers have expressed their disappointment with the final deal.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was the result of nine long months of negotiations and set up a relationship of zero tariffs and zero quotas on goods traded between the EU and UK. How did EU officials respond?

President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen both "warmly" welcomed the result of the vote.

Von der Leyen wrote on Twitter that the deal "marks the foundation of a strong and close partnership with the UK."

Michel said that the EU "will continue to work constructively with the UK as an important friend and partner."

Leading Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt tweeted on Wednesday morning that the European Parliament had approved "the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement!"

"The first trade deal in history to put up barriers & remove freedoms? A failure for both sides, but better than nothing. I still believe one day an ambitious young politician will want the UK in the EU again," he added.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier called the passing of the deal "an important step" and said that the fall in trade between the two partners shows that "the economy needs reliable rules. That's why the new trade and cooperation agreement is

The vote on the deal was delayed after the UK unilaterally postponed implementing cross-border checks on goods from Northern Ireland