UK is heading for no deal, warns PM
BORIS JOHNSON has called a halt to talks with Brussels on a post-brexit trade agreement, warning Britain to prepare for a final no-deal break with the European Union.
In a statement to broadcasters, the Prime Minister accused EU leaders of seeking to impose a series of “unacceptable” demands and called for a “fundamental change of approach” if there was to be any agreement.
The immediate response from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was to say that the EU would carry on negotiating, with talks next week in London going ahead as planned.
However, at a briefing, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the negotiations were now “over”. He said there was “no point” in the EU’S chief negotiator Michel Barnier travelling to the UK unless the EU changed its negotiating position.
“The trade talks are over. The EU have effectively ended them by saying that they do not want to change their negotiating position,” the spokesman said.
“There is only any point in Michel Barnier coming to London next week if he is prepared to discuss all of the issues on the basis of legal texts in an accelerated way,
without the UK being required to make all of the moves.
“Or he is willing to discuss the practicalities of areas such as travel and haulage, which the PM mentioned in his statement. If not, there is no point in coming.”
Mr Johnson had previously said that he would walk away from the negotiations if there was no agreement on a deal by the time of this week’s EU summit in Brussels.
The PM said it was clear the EU was not prepared to offer Britain the kind of Canada-style free trade deal it was seeking.
He said businesses and individuals should now start preparing to start trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation rules like Australia when the current Brexit transition period ends at the end of the year. Mr Johnson said Britain could embrace the prospect of trading on WTO terms – with tariffs on many goods and some quota restrictions – with “high hearts and complete confidence”.
However, industry reacted with alarm, warning of the damage to an economy already stricken by coronavirus.
CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said they could not afford to give up and called on both sides to exercise “tenacity, common sense and compromise”.
“Neither side can afford to fall at the final fence. A deal is the only outcome that protects Covid-hit livelihoods at a time when every job in every country counts,” she said.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes warned it would have a “devastating impact” on the automotive sector.
European Council president Charles Michel said the EU was ready to carry on with negotiations. “We are ready to continue the negotiations and I hope it will be possible to make progress in the future,” he said. “We are determined to reach a deal but not at any cost.”