CRUNCH BREXIT TALKS START AS UK HINTS IT MAY BREAK INT’L LAW ON PACT WITH EU

LONDON: The UK indicated on Tuesday that it was prepared to break an international agreement as post-Brexit trade discussions with the European Union resumed on an increasingly acrimonious tone.

With concerns mounting that the talks could be just weeks from collapse, the UK urged the EU to show “more realism” in the discussions, while the 27-nation bloc noted that it was a “world power” that would stand its ground and not yield to threats.

The latest round of discussions kicked off in London in an air of pessimism because of concerns that the British government is prepared to violate international law by reneging on commitments made before the country’s departure from the bloc on January 31.

Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis appeared to admit as much when he told lawmakers that legislation to be published on Wednesday would change aspects of the Brexit withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU.

Though details of the Internal Market Bill are unclear, Lewis said the planned legislation as it relates to Northern Ireland “does break international law in a very specific and limited way”.

EU officials have said any attempt to override the international treaty could jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland as well as undermine the chances of any trade deal. Under the terms of Britain’s departure, the government has committed itself to ensuring an open border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and EU member Ireland.

“We fully expect the UK to honour the commitments that it negotiated and signed up to,” said EU Parliament President David Sassoli. “Any attempts by the UK to undermine the agreement would have serious consequences.”