Agreed to continue negotiations such as EU free trade agreement with UK Deadline for conclusion is 31st of this month

The leaders of the United Kingdom and the EU-European Union have decided to continue negotiations on the difficult free trade agreement on the 13th.

However, the deadline for concluding the agreement is approaching 31st of this month, and the gap between positions is wide, so the focus will be on whether we can reach an agreement in the next two weeks or so.

After Britain left the EU in January, both sides have continued to negotiate free trade agreements and other agreements by the end of the year, but have been struggling due to fishing rights in the UK's waters.

In the midst of fears that the negotiations would break down, British Prime Minister Johnson and EU Chairman Ursula von der Leyen held another telephone conversation on the 13th and decided to continue the negotiations.

After the meeting, Chairman Von der Leyen said in a joint statement, "We have been exhausted from the negotiations for about a year, and the negotiations have expired many times, but we have a responsibility to work harder." Was read aloud.

"We must be prepared to deal with tariffs starting in January next year," Johnson said in a media interview, stressing that the gap is still wide.

The rupture of negotiations has been avoided for the time being, but the business community is frustrated and frustrated by the uncertain outlook.

The deadline for concluding the agreement is approaching 31st of this month, and if it cannot be concluded, there is a risk of confusion such as tariffs on trade between the two parties from the beginning of the year, so the focus will be on whether the agreement can be reached in the next two weeks or so. I will.

Automotive industry "catastrophic blow without agreement"

Regarding the decision to continue negotiations between the UK and the EU, the British Automobile Manufacturers Association, which includes Japanese manufacturers, said on the 13th, "We are urgently seeking a free trade agreement, and we must have the agreement realized as soon as possible. Without an agreement, the auto industry would be devastated and a terrifying political failure. That should be avoided. "

If a free trade agreement is not signed, a 10% tariff will be levied on passenger cars from the beginning of the year, and industry groups have repeatedly expressed concern that it will lead to a significant drop in sales and production.