With a call for both sides to look forward to a new chapter in their relationship, EU chiefs signed the Brexit trade deal agreed with Britain and sent the text off to London on Wednesday for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to add his signature. Against a backdrop of EU flags, top EU officials signed the treaties struck on December 24 to preserve Britain's tariff- and quota-free access to the bloc's 450 million consumers. Britain formally left the EU nearly a year ago and the new partnership agreement will regulate ties from January 1 on everything from trade to transport, energy links and fishing. After both sides have signed, the deal will be in place until the end of February, pending final approval by the European Parliament that would make it permanent. EU lawmakers are to debate the treaty - the result of months of negotiations that often came close to collapse - later on Wednesday.

Source: The Star December 30, 2020 09:22 UTC