Johnson acknowledges touch-and-go prospects for Brexit deal

BIARRITZ (AP):

United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged on Sunday that the prospect of a Brexit deal was “touch and go” as other European Union (EU) capitals grasp the problems Britain has with the withdrawal agreement.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, Johnson said that in the last few days, following visits to France and Germany, it had dawned on the EU what “the shape of the problem is for the UK”. Among the key issues is how to prevent the return of a border between EU member Ireland and Britain’s Northern Ireland.

As the clock runs down to the October 31 exit date, Johnson injected doubt into hopes that a deal might be stuck.

“I think it’s going to be touch and go,” he told the BBC. “But the important thing is to get ready to come out without a deal.”

And with that, there would be a price. He confirmed, speaking to broadcaster Sky, that he would withhold the bulk of the £39 billion (US$48 billion) Brexit divorce bill if there is not a deal.

The comments came after Johnson won US President Donald Trump’s approval for his approach in talks to leave the EU after a chummy meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.

Johnson glowed as Trump said that he gave him a vote of confidence in his approach to the Brexit talks. The British prime minister’s promise to bring his country out of the EU on October 31 no matter what has raised worries about a disorderly divorce that would see new tariffs and border checks on trade between Britain and the EU, seriously disrupting business.

Trump promised that he and Johnson would work out “a very big trade deal” between their nations once the UK leaves the EU.

“I’m very grateful for that,” Johnson said. “And we’re looking forward to having some pretty comprehensive talks about how to take forward the relationship in all sorts of ways, particularly on trade. We’re very excited about that.”

But the pair were barely past the elegant winding staircase at the Hotel du Palais when it became clear that each had a different vision of what a trade deal might look like. The United States has said that it is ready to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK in pieces – rather than London’s wish of a comprehensive pact.

Johnson pledged a “fantastic deal once we clear up some of the obstacles in our path”. Trump interrupted, promising “lots of fantastic mini-deals”.

The British prime minister badly needs a trade deal with the United States. Supporters of Brexit say that a free trade deal with the United States can help make up for any reduction in commerce with the EU after Britain leaves the bloc’s single market for goods and services. In 2018, Britain did almost half its trade with the EU, while the US accounted for 18 per cent of UK exports and 11 per cent of imports.

“We’re working on a very big trade deal, and I think it’s going to work out,” Trump said.

The meeting between the leaders came a day after Johnson warned that getting a trade deal with the United States won’t be “plain sailing” as he bemoaned barriers to the UK’s goods in American markets.