British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday that Britain will not conclude a trade deal with the European Union if Brussels is not prepared to compromise.
That reports news agency Bloomberg Wednesday. Johnson told Merkel that Britain is ready for a hard Brexit.
Informal talks took place between British and EU negotiators on Tuesday. The British left the EU at the beginning of this year but will remain bound by EU rules until the end of this year.
Negotiations on a trade deal have been difficult, partly because of disagreements regarding fishing rights and the influence of European courts on British law.
Johnson’s office later stated that the UK government is committed to reaching a trade deal, but is also ready for a hard Brexit at the same time, so without a trade deal.
Merkel warned last Wednesday, the day that Germany assumed the rotating EU presidency, that the EU must prepare for negotiations with the British to fail.