UK to EU: We need to know by October 15 if trade deal is possible

By Marc Jones Posted on October 6, 2020

British Union Jack and EU flags are pictured before the meeting with Britain’s Brexit Secretary Barclay and EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Barnier in Brussels

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain needs to know by Oct. 15 if there is going to be a deal with the European Union because businesses need to prepare, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said on Tuesday.

“We do need to be in a position where we’re able to provide certainty to businesses as to what the terms of our future trading relationship with EU are going to be, and we do believe that we need to be able to give clarity on whether or not there’s going to be a deal by the 15th of October,” the spokesman said.

(Reporting by William James; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)