European Commission president warns trade talks will be off if UK reneges on Brexit treaty

The president of the European Commission has threatened to not do business with Britain if "trust" is broken by the UK reneging on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Ursula von der Leyen said respect for the divorce treaty that paved the way for the UK to leave the EU on January 31 this year was a "prerequisite" for any free trade agreement with Brussels. Boris Johnson is planning to use the internal market bill, due to be published on Wednesday, to renege on provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement, according to reports on Sunday. If the bill does undermine commitments made in the Brexit divorce treaty, it will make it extremely difficult politically for Michel Barnier to offer the UK any concessions in the trade negotiations, which restart on Tuesday. Ministers have denied that the Government plans to tear up the treaty (see video below).

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