Britain published its opening demands for trade
talks with the European Union, delivering a
blunt threat to walk away from the table if there
is no progress within four months.
The two sides appear headed for a rocky first
round of negotiations as they try to forge a new
relationship following the U.K.’s departure from
the now 27-nation bloc.
Britain and the EU both say they want to
reach a free trade agreement, but have starkly
divergent views on how it should be overseen
and what constitutes fair competition between
their two economies.
The EU says Britain must agree to follow the
bloc’s rules in areas ranging from state aid to
environmental protections, and give European
boats access to U.K. fishing waters, if the two
sides are to strike a good deal.
Image: Jessica Taylor