Brussels warned Britain Monday that it must must refrain from any formal negotiations for bilateral trade deals with third countries until after its divorce from the EU.
The rebuke by the European Commission came ahead of a visit on Friday by British Prime Minister Theresa May to US President Donald Trump, with a possible trade pact on the agenda.
“(Trade) is an exclusive matter of the European Union. You can of course discuss, debate, but you can only negotiate a trade agreement after you leave the European Union,” European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters in Brussels.
However, he added: “There is nothing in the (EU) treaties that prohibits you from discussing trade.”
The European Commission handles trade policy for the European Union’s 28 member states and will also lead the exit talks with Britain.
May, who is expected to launch the two-year divorce proceedings in March, has already tested the limits of Brussels rules by entering trade discussions with India, Australia and New Zealand.
Britain has made the swift conclusion of bilateral trade deals with third countries, including the US and China, the central policy to secure the UK economy after the British exit from the EU.
The visit by May to Trump will be the first White House visit of a foreign leader under the new US administration.
“They’re going to help renegotiate US and UK trade,” Trump senior aide Kellyanne Conway told NBC News on Sunday.
Full Content: Expatica
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
DOJ and FTC Introduce Website for Reporting Anti-Competitive Healthcare Practices
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
US Congress Advances Legislation to Compel TikTok Sale
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
UK Financial Sector Advocates Enhanced Regulatory Accountability
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Google and All 50 States Defend $700 Million Consumer Settlement
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Colorado Enacts First Law to Protect Consumer Brainwave Data
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI