The U.K. told citizens to expect some bumps ahead as the Brexit free-trade pact moves forward.
British legislators likely to vote on free-trade pact Wednesday
LONDON — First came the Brexit trade deal. Now comes the red tape and the institutional nitty gritty.
Four days after sealing a freetrade agreement with the European Union, the British government warned businesses Monday to get ready for disruptions and “bumpy moments” when the new rules take effect Thursday night.
Firms are scrambling to digest the details and implications of the 1,240page deal sealed by the EU and the U.K. on Christmas Eve, just a week before the year-end deadline.
Ambassadors from the 27 EU nations, meanwhile, gave their unanimous approval to the deal Monday.
“Green light,” said German spokesman Sebastian Fischer, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.
The approval had been expected because all EU leaders have warmly welcomed the deal, which is designed to put post-brexit relations between the bloc and former member Britain on reliable footing.
The agreement has not, however, eliminated the mistrust that festered between Britain and its neighbors during months of fractious negotiations.
The French presidency said in a statement that France will remain “from the very first day very vigilant” about the implementation of the deal, especially to protect French companies and fisheries “in case the U.K. disregards its commitments.”
The agreement needs approval from Britain’s Parliament, which is scheduled to vote on it Wednesday, and from the EU’S legislature, which is not expected to take up the deal for weeks.
The leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups said they will not seek full approval until March because of the specific and far-reaching implications of the agreement. The expectation is that EU lawmakers will approve the deal.
The agreement, hammered out after more than nine months of tense negotiations, will ensure Britain and the 27-nation bloc can continue to trade in goods without tariffs or quotas.