OT: UPDATED AS 'BREXIT' DEAL IS AGREED

UK, EU agree a Brexit trade deal


The U.K. and the EU announced Thursday they have agreed a trade deal that will avoid tariffs when Britain exits the Brexit transition period at the end of the year.

"We have finally found an agreement. It was a long and winding road but we have got a good deal to show for it. It is fair and it is a balanced deal,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference.

A U.K. government spokesperson said, "Deal is done ... Everything that the British public was promised during the 2016 referendum and in the general election last year is delivered by this deal."


Negotiators had been under huge pressure because of fears there wouldn't be enough time to turn any agreement into law before the end of the transition period on December 31, meaning the two sides could end up trading on unfavorable World Trade Organization terms.

The deal will be a boost to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU leaders, all of whom were anxious not to be blamed if the U.K. crashed out without some kind of agreement.

“Negotiations were difficult … but it was such a wide-reaching agreement … that it was worth fighting for it,” von der Leyen said.

"Competition in our single market will be fair and remain so. The EU rules and standards will be respected. We have effective tools to react if fair competition is distorted and impacts our trade."


The U.K. government spokesperson said, "This agreement allows the beginning of a new relationship between the UK and the EU. One that we have always wanted - a thriving trading and economic relationship between a sovereign UK and our European partners and friends."

"For the British people the deal delivers the objectives of the 2016 referendum and the 2019 election, and it will bring significant benefits for both the UK and the EU," the spokesperson added.


The trade deal must now be approved by each of the 27 EU member countries, the European Parliament and the U.K. parliament. Given time is so tight, the EU is expected to let the agreement come into force provisionally on January 1, with the European Parliament then giving its approval retroactively early next year.

The Commission said it "proposes to apply the Agreement on a provisional basis, for a limited period of time until 28 February 2021."


European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the deal but also noted that the process was not yet complete.

"The announcement that the negotiators have reached an agreement is a major step forward to establish a close relationship between the EU and the UK," Michel said in a statement.

“For our citizens and businesses a comprehensive agreement with our neighbour, friend and ally is the best outcome. Over the past years the EU has shown unity and determination in its negotiations with the UK We will continue to uphold the same unity," he said.

“These have been very challenging negotiations but the process is not over. Now is the time for the Council and the European Parliament to analyse the agreement reached at negotiators’ level, before they give their green lights."

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As long as dont agree to being chained to EU economic conditions and we are allowed to sink EU boats if invade our fishing waters the can do a deal!

Merry Brexmas

Merry Brexmas

Looks like it will be, Tony

Great news that a deal seems to be agreed.

Not getting carried away yet, though.

A lot will come down to what the ERG's lawyers think about it.

I sincerely hope the deal passes through the UK and EU parliaments.

I will be glad when its all over so we can finally see that this will make no difference to our prospects or wealth. Nationalist nonsense but there we go the majority voted for it so we'll just have to live with the consequences. The country is in a total economic mess because of Covid and dealing with that is what we'll all have to focus on for many years to come. Brexit frankly is irrelevant. Watch your pensions and home equity everyone, the Tories will be coming for them.

I will be glad when its all over so we can finally see that this will make no difference to our prospects or wealth. Nationalist nonsense but there we go the majority voted for it so we'll just have to live with the consequences. The country is in a total economic mess because of Covid and dealing with that is what we'll all have to focus on for many years to come. Brexit frankly is irrelevant. Watch your pensions and home equity everyone, the Tories will be coming for them.

What just like one eyed crank Gordon Brown did. Irrespective of who’s in power our kids and grandchildren will be paying for Covid for decades.

I will be glad when its all over so we can finally see that this will make no difference to our prospects or wealth. Nationalist nonsense but there we go the majority voted for it so we'll just have to live with the consequences. The country is in a total economic mess because of Covid and dealing with that is what we'll all have to focus on for many years to come. Brexit frankly is irrelevant. Watch your pensions and home equity everyone, the Tories will be coming for them.

What just like one eyed crank Gordon Brown did. Irrespective of who’s in power our kids and grandchildren will be paying for Covid for decades.

Yes its nothing new and someone as to pay for the covid cost ! Maybe they should just put amount on income tax say for a year to pay back what as been spent.. at least then can see what's being done and not die by a thousand taxes like vat!

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

There will be still people looking at the negative parts of agreement but in Time we will work around these things! But we are freeee of the beaurocrocy that is the EU

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I agree it sounds like he has done a very good job where others either ran away or failed miserably . Now to make good on Covid and he could end up as one of the greatest prime ministers ever.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I agree it sounds like he has done a very good job. Now to make good on Covid and he could end up as one of the greatest prime ministers ever.

Aye he could scrap that shower down the bay and spend the yearly £100m saved on anything useful.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I wouldn't go that far

As has been pointed out, a lot of things that the PM has said about the deal today aren't true.

As has been said be a number of people, there will in fact be regulatory barriers. This is something Boris Johnson has said isn't the case, but it's there in black and white that it is.

I'm pleased a deal has been done because, in my opinion, it is so much better than no deal.

But to hear Boris Johnson being called a "brilliant statesman" is one of the funniest things I've heard this year.


I look forward to reading the trade deal in full, but I do now expect it to pass though Parliament.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I wouldn't go that far

As has been pointed out, a lot of things that the PM has said about the deal today aren't true.

As has been said be a number of people, there will in fact be regulatory barriers. This is something Boris Johnson has said isn't the case, but it's there in black and white that it is.

I'm pleased a deal has been done because, in my opinion, it is so much better than no deal.

But to hear Boris Johnson being called a "brilliant statesman" is one of the funniest things I've heard this year.


I look forward to reading the trade deal in full, but I do now expect it to pass though Parliament.

It hasn't been released yet so nobody knows what is in black and white . Only rumours and expectations. Even Westminster has not had the chance to scrutinise it yet. It sounds a good deal but there are slight differences in what both sides are saying which was always going to be the case.

It sounds like The only regulatory barriers will be if either side decide to undercut the other. That goes both ways and we would have as much power as them . Also any grievances will be decided by a third party so neither side can just punish the other as they wish

Drakeford not happy with the deal says it's not what was promised and was a thin deal for Wales

Well Boris Johnson promised 2 things to Take Back Control and Get It Done and as far as I can see there are 2 massive ticks in the box.

I've been fed up of whining remainers saying for months or years even that we couldn't get a free tade agreement for one reason or another, even last week there were so called experts who were saying it couldn't happen, But come 1st January the ECJ is a thing of the past with Westminster once again the Sovereign Parliament of the UK, Free movement of people has ended, we have stopped making payments amounting to £B's to this club and we have free trade agreement with the EU. And right now unlike the EU with have a vaccine for covid.

I always believed in the fact that the UK is the single biggest export market for the EU and at the end of the day none of the EU leaders fancied a world of export tariffs on their goods.

Only one previous PM took this lot on but Boris Johnson well this places him way out in front of any of them. The man who kept his promise to Get It Done and today he took back control.

Well Boris Johnson promised 2 things to Take Back Control and Get It Done and as far as I can see there are 2 massive ticks in the box.

I've been fed up of whining remainers saying for months or years even that we couldn't get a free tade agreement for one reason or another, even last week there were so called experts who were saying it couldn't happen, But come 1st January the ECJ is a thing of the past with Westminster once again the Sovereign Parliament of the UK, Free movement of people has ended, we have stopped making payments amounting to £B's to this club and we have free trade agreement with the EU. And right now unlike the EU with have a vaccine for covid.

I always believed in the fact that the UK is the single biggest export market for the EU and at the end of the day none of the EU leaders fancied a world of export tariffs on their goods.

Only one previous PM took this lot on but Boris Johnson well this places him way out in front of any of them. The man who kept his promise to Get It Done and today he took back control.

At end day both sides will claim a sort of victory ...
but we are free of EU and its biased laws and regulations that seem only to apply to uk! Will it be a perfect deal No but it's a deal that means we are independent again to do what we want and not be told we can't....

Well Boris Johnson promised 2 things to Take Back Control and Get It Done and as far as I can see there are 2 massive ticks in the box.

I've been fed up of whining remainers saying for months or years even that we couldn't get a free tade agreement for one reason or another, even last week there were so called experts who were saying it couldn't happen, But come 1st January the ECJ is a thing of the past with Westminster once again the Sovereign Parliament of the UK, Free movement of people has ended, we have stopped making payments amounting to £B's to this club and we have free trade agreement with the EU. And right now unlike the EU with have a vaccine for covid.

I always believed in the fact that the UK is the single biggest export market for the EU and at the end of the day none of the EU leaders fancied a world of export tariffs on their goods.

Only one previous PM took this lot on but Boris Johnson well this places him way out in front of any of them. The man who kept his promise to Get It Done and today he took back control.

At end day both sides will claim a sort of victory ...
but we are free of EU and its biased laws and regulations that seem only to apply to uk! Will it be a perfect deal No but it's a deal that means we are independent again to do what we want and not be told we can't....

I think Covid has proved thing more than any politician could.

It's better when we work together rather than take stupid nationalistic view points (Drakeford / Sturgeon).
What matters most (other than good health and protection) is making sure we can do business with our close neighbours.

It seems Britain leads the world when it comes to virus detection / resource and vaccines. Im talking about the Oxford / AZ one.

As we will see - it will be possible for us to work with the EU as well as other countries. We can set our own immigration policy / points test. We can now accept people into the UK from any country that we choose to. Indian Dr's , Filipino nurses etc. And we have the right to kick out foreign criminals who want to stay here and claim on their human rights issues if they were deported etc.

So all in all - not a lot of change (other than the one big fundamental one) We will still drink French wine, eat cheese, import cars made in German. We will also still import most of Irelands exports in terms of dairy.

Eurasmus has been changed for something better (we were a net contributor anyway), GDPR will be kept but be will superseded by our own DPB (data protection bill). We'll still be able to go to Greece and Spain and spend money in their tourist industry.

A lot of the adrenaline has left this argument a long time ago - whicg then means they could hopefully sit down and discuss everything rather than a couple going through the last argument before divorce.

Basically everyone needs to get over it, concentrate on health and making money - and getting back to normal

Great news that a deal seems to be agreed.

Not getting carried away yet, though.

A lot will come down to what the ERG's lawyers think about it.

I sincerely hope the deal passes through the UK and EU parliaments.

They won’t have any influence on it now.
Labour are going to back it.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I agree it sounds like he has done a very good job where others either ran away or failed miserably . Now to make good on Covid and he could end up as one of the greatest prime ministers ever.

He shouldn’t be judged on C19. No way. It’s completely unprecedented. Every nation has tried this and that and it’ll go in due course - hopefully- but there are too many unknown factors.

What angers me is the socialists and other opposition politicians and the left press criticising when they wouldn’t have done anything differently or better.

The country owes a debt of gratitude the government have for better or worse funded the nation at this unbelievably difficult time.

People should get off Boris’ back and support him irrespective of their politics.

Well done Boris Johnson.
All the pseudo critics of his brilliant statesmanship can now eat their words.
He got us out of the ruinous EU and now despite all the carping, criticism and horse manure, he’s delivered as he says he would.

I agree it sounds like he has done a very good job where others either ran away or failed miserably . Now to make good on Covid and he could end up as one of the greatest prime ministers ever.

He shouldn’t be judged on C19. No way. It’s completely unprecedented. Every nation has tried this and that and it’ll go in due course - hopefully- but there are too many unknown factors.

What angers me is the socialists and other opposition politicians and the left press criticising when they wouldn’t have done anything differently or better.

The country owes a debt of gratitude the government have for better or worse funded the nation at this unbelievably difficult time.

People should get off Boris’ back and support him irrespective of their politics.

I think the inquiry will say a lot differently.

There are lots of things he has done wrong re C19.

Fully appreciate that it is unprecedented. But it is for everyone.

You mention supporting the nation as a plus. Basically he has adopted Labour’s policies.

I was a defender of his until recently. Too many mistakes.

The booze cruise will be back!

The booze cruise will be back!

Yeee Harr

The booze cruise will be back!

Yeee Harr

Think allowance similar to before it was stopped! +200 cigarettes...
Downside wont be able to take ham sandwiches to EU!

Drakeford not happy with the deal says it's not what was promised and was a thin deal for Wales

On Sunday Dripford said any deal was better than no deal. You just couldn't make it up but hang on we are dealing with Dripford.

Drakeford not happy with the deal says it's not what was promised and was a thin deal for Wales

On Sunday Dripford said any deal was better than no deal. You just couldn't make it up but hang on we are dealing with Dripford.

He’s inconsequential to the relevance of this deal.

Wales is part of the UK. The deal applies to the UK.

Drakeford not happy with the deal says it's not what was promised and was a thin deal for Wales

On Sunday Dripford said any deal was better than no deal. You just couldn't make it up but hang on we are dealing with Dripford.

He’s inconsequential to the relevance of this deal.

Wales is part of the UK. The deal applies to the UK.

Drakeford not happy with the deal says it's not what was promised and was a thin deal for Wales

On Sunday Dripford said any deal was better than no deal. You just couldn't make it up but hang on we are dealing with Dripford.

He’s inconsequential to the relevance of this deal.

Wales is part of the UK. The deal applies to the UK.

It does but there are things that effect home countries differently! But Welsh farmers and buisnesses are broadly happy except the fisherman's lot..... fishing deal is for 5.5 yrs EU wanted 8 so compromise there? at least there is end to EU control of our waters and fishing owners can plan ahead if required.

Time will tell whether it's a good deal or not. Short term the general consensus among economists is that GDP will drop 1-2% as a result of us leaving. Long term, any benefit will depend on what trade deals can be negotiated with the rest of the world, particularly the US and emerging economies like Africa and India. Biden isnt in a rush to get a deal done as hes got domestic matters to concentrate on first.
Time will tell.