The UK and the European Union have struck a free-trade deal after nearly a year of talks.
With less than a week before the end of the Brexit transition period, UK and EU officials confirmed on Thursday that they had agreed on a deal after weeks of intensive talks in London and Brussels.
Under the terms of the agreement, there will be zero tariffs and zero quotas on goods, and both sides will cooperate on key issues including security, travel, and climate change.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on the phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday afternoon to sign off on the agreement after a day of intensive talks about fishing quotas.
“Everything that the British public was promised during the 2016 referendum and in the general election last year is delivered by this deal,” a Downing Street official said in a statement on Thursday.
Johnson tweeted, “The deal is done.” At a press conference, he said the UK had “taken back control of our laws and our destiny” and described the agreement as a “good deal for the whole of Europe.”
The deal is done. pic.twitter.com/zzhvxOSeWz
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 24, 2020
Von der Leyen tweeted: “It was worth fighting for this deal. We now have a fair & balanced agreement with the UK. It will protect our EU interests, ensure fair competition & provide predictability for our fishing communities. Europe is now moving on.”
It was worth fighting for this deal.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 24, 2020
We now have a fair & balanced agreement with the UK. It will protect our EU interests, ensure fair competition & provide predictability for our fishing communities.
Europe is now moving on. https://t.co/77jrNknlu3
Source: businessinsider.com