Joachim Lang, Managing Director of Germany’s BDI industry group said today, “the uncertainty surrounding the withdrawal may be over, but there is no reason to be relieved.” “The risk of a hard Brexit, meaning a disorderly British exit from the EU at the end of the year, is not off the table.”
Lang warned that is is “simply impossible” to complete the task of trade negotiations between EU and UK by the end of the year. He complained that “it is a serious mistake for the British government to categorically rule out an extension of the transition period.”
He also explained that only a basic free trade agreement could be achieved by year end. And, . “We would be miles away from a modern free trade agreement such as the one with Canada, for example.” He also urged a strong EU position and “the EU cannot leave any doubt: those who will diverge from EU rules will not get the best access to the world’s largest internal market. We expect the EU to act in a united and strong way.”
