The United Kingdom said Friday, October 23, it aims for a post-Brexit free trade agreement with the European Union "as
soon as possible
", after France estimated that the negotiations could exceed the deadline of October 31 set by the European Union. Europeans.
Read also: Brexit: Boris Johnson takes the risk of a "no deal"
After a week of paralysis, the UK and the European Union resumed talks on Thursday in the hope of reaching an agreement, as the end of the post-Brexit transition period, set for December 31, approaches. big steps.
Until now, the Europeans had said that a compromise had to be found by the end of October so that it could be transposed and adopted in time for the end of the year.
"
We are giving a few more days to give the negotiation a chance, but we need to know quickly enough
," French Minister of European Affairs Clément Beaune said on BFM Business on Thursday.
The Europeans estimate that they still have two or three weeks ahead of them.
Read also: Brexit: London and Oslo agree on a temporary free trade agreement
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set mid-October as the deadline, a deadline already passed.
"
We want to reach an agreement on the basis of what we have defined as soon as possible,
" a spokesman for Boris Johnson said on Friday, when asked about the statements of the French secretary of state.
Negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost are now discussing "
legal texts in all areas for the first time
", he added.
“
We have been clear on our ambitions for the negotiations.
We want to achieve a free trade agreement that respects us as a sovereign nation
, ”said the spokesperson.
In the event of a “
no-deal
”, synonymous with potentially devastating economic consequences, trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union will be governed by the terms of the World Trade Organization and subject to quotas and customs duties. .
Read also: Brexit: Barnier calls on London to "make the most of the time left"
At the same time, the British government is making agreements with European partners who are not members of the EU, notably Norway and Switzerland, and signed an agreement with Japan on Friday.
“
It was said that an independent United Kingdom would not be able to conclude independent free trade agreements, or that they would take years,
” declared from Tokyo the British Minister for Trade Liz Truss.
"
Today we prove the contrary
".