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I think the reason everyone assumed that was because that was the general consensus. The idea that the EU and UK can't negotiate new trading terms until after t
by makomk 10y ago
I think the reason everyone assumed that was because that was the general consensus. The idea that the EU and UK can't negotiate new trading terms until after the 2 years is up seems to be something the European Commission pulled out their ass in the last day or so.
- bodyfour 10y agoNo, I think you're confused. What they've said is that they're not willing to negotiate BEFORE the 2 years is TRIGGERED. i.e. they don't want the UK to foot-drag on triggering A50 and prolonging the process indefinitely. Basically, "shit or get off the pot" The EU position is that if the UK is really going to trigger it, then they should do it as soon as the next PM is installed. Again, the 2 year window is explicitly for these negotiations. It has not started yet, though.
- makomk 10y agoI'm not confused, it's just a mess. No negotiations before the two years is triggered was the original EU position. The EU (or at least their trade comissioner) has come up with a new escalation, claiming that the UK also can't negotiate any post-Brexit trading terms as part of the exit negotiations, that they have to leave the EU first before they can start negotiating on how to trade with the EU: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/01/cecilia-malmstrom-eu-trade-commissioner-brexit-uk-wto http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/01/cecilia-malm... This is bad not just for the UK, but also for EU states reliant on trading with the UK.
- gonvaled 10y agoEverybody is pulling things out of assess: Cameron backtracked in his promise to trigger Article 50 immediately after the referendum. And the EU is interpreting fuzzy law however it will please. That's what happens when goodwill gets trashed, and trust thrown out the window.