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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has said he is \u201cnot optimistic\u201d that Britain will strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union.<\/p>\nTaoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has said he is \u201cnot optimistic\u201d that Britain will strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union.<\/p>\n
Mr. Martin said there was still the \u201cpotential for a deal\u201d, but warned that the Government\u2019s controversial legislation which enables the UK to break international law had \u201ceroded trust\u201d.<\/p>\n
He told the i<\/em> newspaper in an interview to be broadcast at the Liberal Democrat conference on Monday that the UK Internal Market Bill \u201cdamaged the credibility\u201d of agreements already entered into.<\/p>\n Asked if he believes a free trade agreement is likely, he said: \u201cI\u2019m not that optimistic, if I\u2019m honest. Just to let you know that the (Irish) government is preparing its budget in three weeks\u2019 time on the basis that there will be a no-deal Brexit.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the basis on which we\u2019re preparing the budget and we\u2019re warning and alerting businesses to that terrible reality.<\/p>\n \u201cI think progress has been slow in the talks so far, I think there is still potential for a deal, I believe a deal is the sane and sensible thing to do, and I think all of us as politicians have an obligation to those we represent \u2013 and in terms of Brexit that means the least damage possible to workers, to employers and to business and economy.\u201d<\/p>\n The ninth round of trade deal negotiations between the UK and EU will begin on Tuesday in Brussels, but the time left to reach a deal is dwindling.<\/p>\n There are fewer than 100 days until the transition period, in which the UK remains in the single market and continues to follow EU law, ends on December 31.<\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>