Here are the main battle lines for the coming weeks:– No extension –Throughout his campaign, Johnson said he would seal a trade deal by December 31, the deadline set by the EU-UK divorce agreement. Johnson has pledged to instead pursue a far more minimal trade deal that will seek zero tariffs and quotas on goods, but make no binding commitment on standards. This refers to the EU’s trade deal with Canada that Europeans consider ambitious as a trade deal, but too narrow for an important neighbour like Britain. Diplomats warn there were not many ways to enforce the level playing field in a simple trade deal, except through threatening tariffs that can take months or even years to impose. Image: POOL/AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would seal a trade deal with the EU by December 31, the deadline set by the EU-UK divorce agreement

Source: Egypt Independent January 28, 2020 06:45 UTC