For that to happen, though, the badly divided cabinet members will have to stop bickering and begin to work out agreements among themselves about the future relationship. And there are only a limited number of templates for a future relationship, Brussels officials consistently say. Then there is the task of defining the “outlines” of a future relationship, which the British call a trade deal. Some Brexiters want to use that as a bargaining chip for a trade deal, but that idea is controversial and is resented in Brussels. “The real negotiations on the economics will be in the period of the transitional deal,” Mr. Fraser said.

Source: New York Times December 08, 2017 07:18 UTC