Her ideal accord would allow tariff-free trade between Britain and the EU, while she would secure the liberty to strike new pacts with other countries. May’s speech put to rest recent suggestions that the premier should be dubbed “Theresa Maybe,” for being too cautious to act. Failure to get what she wants would mean her taking the UK out of Europe with “no deal’’ at all, she said. While the UK wants to be “reliable partners, willing allies and close friends’’ it will also fight back if the EU decides to punish it, she said. May’s game of hard ball might increase her chances of achieving the best deal possible, but also of ending up with nothing.

Source: Mint January 18, 2017 05:28 UTC