Britain Will 'abide By EU Rules' On Trade Deals: Hammond
Muhammad Rameez Published January 27, 2017 | 02:00 PM
BRUSSELS, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2017 ) - Britain will continue to obey EU rules on negotiating trade deals as long as it remains a full-fledged member of the bloc, finance minister Philip Hammond said on Friday.
The comments were made just hours before British Prime Minister Theresa May is to sit down with US President Donald Trump to begin drawing up a free trade deal linking the countries after the UK leaves the European Union.
May's visit to Washington has ruffled feathers in Europe as it would be a violation of EU treaties for a member state to negotiate trade deals independently of the bloc. "Britain remains a fully engaged member of the European Union," Hammond said in a response to a question on May's visit as he arrived for talks with EU finance ministers in Brussels.
Britain, which voted to quit the EU in June, is expected to launch two years of fraught exit negotiations in late March but will remain a bloc member until the divorce is done. In the meantime, May's government is keen to start talks on a US-UK free trade agreement as soon as possible, seeing bilateral trade deals as the best hope of softening the blow of leaving Europe's single market of 500 million consumers.
May's government will "continue to abide by the rules and regulations and the laws of the European Union for so long as we are members," Hammond said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Ukraine agriculture minister freed on bail in corruption case
19 minutes ago -
Vietnam National Assembly head resigns amid graft purge
19 minutes ago -
Calls for mosque demolition weigh on India's Muslim voters
28 minutes ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
29 minutes ago -
China's EV execs bullish on Western pressure at Beijing car show
38 minutes ago -
EU toughens rules on fashion retailer Shein
39 minutes ago
-
Xi meets U.S. secretary of state in Beijing
48 minutes ago -
Ukrainian minister detained over suspected corruption: prosecutors
49 minutes ago -
Golf: PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
59 minutes ago -
Pilot seriously injured after vintage plane crash in Western Australia
1 hour ago -
Iron ore futures close higher
1 hour ago -
Tabloid head wanted to 'protect' Trump from salacious stories
1 hour ago