First there are the “divorce” talks on the withdrawal agreement. For now, London appears to have decided it can long-finger the “backstop” option in the withdrawal agreement divorce talks. Talks will open on the legal text of an EU-UK trade agreement based on the political framework already agreed. The Irish protocol to the withdrawal agreement sets out the wide range and detail of the discussions. Photograph: Hayoung Jeon/EPADavid DavisBritain’s secretary of state for exiting the European Union and chief negotiator on Brexit.

Source: The Irish Times May 12, 2018 05:02 UTC