'Whatever it takes', UK's Johnson warns EU over post-Brexit trade
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2022
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
'Whatever it takes', UK's Johnson warns EU over post-Brexit trade

Europe

Reuters
12 June, 2021, 04:55 pm
Last modified: 12 June, 2021, 07:27 pm

Related News

  • EU welcomes Dhaka’s 'openness' to intl election observers at next polls
  • Finland, Sweden would be valuable additions to NATO, UK's Johnson tells Erdogan
  • EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert
  • Ukrainian PM says EU disburses 600m euros to Ukraine
  • Britain's Nationwide annual profit nearly doubles

'Whatever it takes', UK's Johnson warns EU over post-Brexit trade

"I think we can sort it out but .. it is up to our EU friends and partners to understand that we will do whatever it takes"

Reuters
12 June, 2021, 04:55 pm
Last modified: 12 June, 2021, 07:27 pm
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Britain, June 12, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/Pool
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Britain, June 12, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/Pool

Britain will do "whatever it takes" to protect its territorial integrity in a trade dispute with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday, threatening emergency measures if no solution was found.

Since Britain completed its exit from the EU late last year, relations between the two have soured, with both accusing the other of acting in bad faith over part of their Brexit divorce deal that covers border issues with Northern Ireland.

The two sides showed little sign of defusing their row during a G7 weekend summit hosted by Britain.

Despite US President Joe Biden encouraging them to find a compromise, Johnson's words indicated no softening of his position on what is called the Northern Ireland protocol that covers border issues with the British province.

"I think we can sort it out but .. it is up to our EU friends and partners to understand that we will do whatever it takes," Johnson told Sky News.

"I think if the protocol continues to be applied in this way, then we will obviously not hesitate to invoke Article 16," he added, referring to a safeguard clause that allows either side to take measures if they believe the agreement is leading to economic, societal or environment difficulties.

"I've talked to some of our friends here today, who do seem to misunderstand that the UK is a single country, a single territory. I just need to get that into their heads."

His words came after he met French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and top EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel at a Group of Seven summit in southwestern England.

The EU told London once again that it must implement the Brexit deal in full and introduce checks on certain goods moving from Britain to its province of Northern Ireland. Britain again called for urgent and innovative solutions within the protocol.

No Narrowing Of Positions

 

"Both sides must implement what we agreed on," von der Leyen, European Commission president, said after meeting Johnson alongside Michel, the European Council president.

"There is complete EU unity on this," she said, adding that the deal had been agreed, signed and ratified by both Johnson's government and the bloc.

Earlier this week, talks between the two sides negotiators ended in an exchange of threats over the so-called "sausage wars" were absent. An EU official said at the G7 that there was a need for the rhetoric to be toned down.

Since Britain exited the bloc's orbit, Johnson has unilaterally delayed the implementation of some provisions of the protocol, including checks on chilled foods such as sausages moving from the mainland to Northern Ireland, saying it was causing disruption to some supplies to the province.

The United States has expressed grave concern the dispute could undermine the 1998 Good Friday peace deal.

That agreement largely brought an end to the "Troubles" - three decades of conflict between Irish Catholic nationalist militants and pro-British Protestant "loyalist" paramilitaries in which 3,600 people were killed.

Though Brexit was not part of the formal agenda for the G7 summit in the English seaside resort of Carbis Bay, it has more than once threatened to cloud the meeting.

France's Macron offered to reset relations with Britain as long as Johnson stood by the Brexit deal - a characterisation of the meeting that was rejected by the British team. read more

Brexit has also strained the situation in Northern Ireland. The province has an open border with EU member Ireland so the Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed as a way to preserve the bloc's single market after Britain left.

The protocol essentially kept the province in the EU's customs union and adhering to many of the single market rules, creating a regulatory border in the Irish Sea between the British province and the rest of the United Kingdom.

The pro-British "unionist" community in Northern Ireland say they are now split off from the rest of the United Kingdom and the Brexit deal breaches the 1998 peace deal. But the open border between the province and Ireland was a key principle of Good Friday deal.

Top News / World+Biz

EU / Britain / Boris Johnson / implement / Brexit

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • No document needed to avail cash incentives for remittance over Tk5 lakh
    No document needed to avail cash incentives for remittance over Tk5 lakh
  • Interbank exchange rate of dollar rises to Tk88
    Interbank exchange rate of dollar rises to Tk88
  • File photo of Square Pharma factory
    Square Pharma fire yet to come under control: Fire service

MOST VIEWED

  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (not pictured), as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 1, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
    Ukraine is losing up to 100 lives a day in east: Zelensky
  • Poland's President Andrzej Duda shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a joint news conference, amid Russia's invasion, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
    Ukraine, Poland agree on joint customs control to ease movement of people, goods
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint news conference with Poland's President Andrzej Duda, amid Russia's invasion, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
    Zelenskiy promises reciprocal rights for Poles in Ukraine
  • A view of the destroyed village of Moshchun, amid Russia's invasion, Kyiv region, Ukraine May 19, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Leonardo Benassatto
    Ukraine rejects concessions as Russians attack in east and south
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a news conference, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Janis Laizans
    Only diplomacy can end Ukraine war: Zelensky
  • Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu holds talks with members of the Brazilian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Carlos Franca and Defence Minister Walter Souza Braga Netto, in Moscow, Russia February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/Pool
    Russia says it will beef up forces near western border

Related News

  • EU welcomes Dhaka’s 'openness' to intl election observers at next polls
  • Finland, Sweden would be valuable additions to NATO, UK's Johnson tells Erdogan
  • EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert
  • Ukrainian PM says EU disburses 600m euros to Ukraine
  • Britain's Nationwide annual profit nearly doubles

Features

Musk is denying the sexual harassment allegation that surfaced this week. Photo: Bloomberg

Elon Musk’s crazily banal week 

2h | Panorama
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

6h | Brands
Keep your phone by your side with this armband

Keep your phone by your side with this armband

3h | Brands
Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

4h | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

7m | Videos
Photo: TBS

Can Sri Lanka bounce back?

6h | Videos
How to apply for a job at Oxfam

How to apply for a job at Oxfam

7h | Videos
Investors, public to suffer from electricity price hike

Investors, public to suffer from electricity price hike

19h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

4
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

5
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

6
The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter
Industry

The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab