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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 6 February 2018

EU says UK must make its mind up on future trade relations

By DANICA KIRKA rest of the world.
Associated Press "It's perfectly clear what
LONDON (AP) — The Euro- we want to do. There's no
pean Union's Brexit nego- doubt about it, we are
tiator warned Monday that leaving the customs union
the time has come for the but we are aiming for a
U.K. to clarify what relation- good future for Britain."
ship it wants with the bloc The comments come after
once it leaves, and warned weeks of political infighting
that exiting its customs within Prime Minister The-
union would hurt trade. resa May's Conservative
Michel Barnier shook his Party.
head as he outlined the re- With only months before
sults of a meeting with the Britain is to leave, May's
U.K. Brexit chief David Da- party has been split be-
vis. With Britain set for de- tween those who want a
parture on March 29, 2019, complete break from the
Barnier said it was time for EU and those who want
Britain to decide whether it to keep Britain's economy
wants. closely aligned with the
"The only thing I can say, bloc and its market of 500
without a customs union million people.
and outside the single Business leaders have been
market, barriers to trade pleading with May to have
on goods and services are close alignment with the Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May listens during the general election in Maidenhead, England.
unavoidable." Barnier said. EU. Lawmaker Anna Sou- As a new round of talks opens between Britain and the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa
"The time has come to bry urged May to pay at- May is under mounting pressure to take sides in the Conservative Party's war over Brexit.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
make a choice." tention, taking to Twitter to
Davis, by contrast, said urge her to reject the so- "It's deeply unattractive being part of the customs States and others. Such
tried to assert the British called "Hard Brexit" vision that the only reason they union affects how mem- deals wouldn't be possible
position was clear: The U.K. espoused by the European want to leave #Custom- bers trade with countries while remaining in a cus-
wanted a comprehensive Research Group lawmak- sUnion is to chase unicorn outside it. Political leaders toms union because the EU
free trade agreement while ers, led by Jacob-Rees trade deals," she tweeted. who pushed for Britain's executive negotiates trade
still having the opportunity Mogg, a prominent Brexi- The government position exit pledged to strike new deals on behalf of mem-
to make deals across the teer. was important because trade deals with the United bers of the bloc. q

German forge ahead with talks on new coalition government

By DAVID RISING when formal negotiations tracts and trying to narrow
Associated Press started Jan. 26. differences between Ger-
BERLIN (AP) — The prospec- Social Democrat leader many's public and private
tive partners in Germany's Martin Schulz tweeted late health insurance systems.
new government forged in the afternoon that the Negotiators told the dpa
ahead Monday with their sides had agreed upon news agency that party
push to nail down a coali- measures to strengthen leaders had agreed to
tion deal, but with several Europe, including more in- keep working later into the
issues still to be worked vestment and greater re- night, but to then break off
out, negotiators suggested sources to fight youth un- and resume talks Tuesday.
they'd need at least anoth- employment. Even then the talks were
er day to finalize an agree- "We have now the real expected to go long, with
ment. chance to improve Eu- officials involved telling
Chancellor Angela Merkel's rope," he tweeted. "We dpa that results of the co-
conservative Union bloc should take this opportu- alition agreement might
and the center-left Social nity." not be announced to the
Democrats originally set a By Monday night, however, public until Wednesday.
Sunday deadline to wrap two points that are impor- Germany's effort to put to-
up talks on extending their tant to the Social Demo- Martin Schulz, head of Germany's Social Democratic Party, SPD, gether a governing coali-
alliance of the past four crats still had not been speaks to journalists at the start of a new round of coalition talks tion after its Sept. 24 elec-
years, but budgeted two worked out: curbing the in Berlin, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. tion is already its longest
extra days as a precaution use of temporary work con- (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) since World War II. q