LONDON: Britain's Theresa May plans to speak to every European Union leader and the European Commission chief to seek changes to her EU withdrawal agreement, days after another defeat from her own lawmakers and as businesses brace for a no-deal Brexit on March 29. But a defeat in a symbolic vote in parliament on Thursday has weakened her pledge and increase the risk of a "no-deal" Brexit in 40 days. Unless May can get a Brexit deal approved by the British parliament, she will have to decide whether to delay Brexit or thrust the world's fifth-largest economy into chaos by leaving without a deal at the end of March. "Businesses are now testing the airbags on their Brexit preparations," said James Stewart, head of Brexit at KPMG UK. Airbus, which designs and manufactures wings for its aircraft in Britain, said on Sunday a "no-deal" Brexit would be "absolutely catastrophic".

Source: Mint February 17, 2019 15:11 UTC