Though Fox said the two commenced “very fruitful” trade negotiations, according to a report in London’s Sunday Times, Canada’s priority is to enact and ratify the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in 2017 while the U.K.is still part of the EU.
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The U.S. government is committed to concluding a free trade deal with the European Union this year and believes it is even more essential after Britons voted to leave the bloc, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday.
He was speaking at a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after a meeting with his European counterparts including Boris Johnson, Britain’s new foreign minister, who led the Leave campaign.
“I would like to thank you personally, and through you the USA administration of President Obama for the strong message and clear message that we always hear from you on the need for a strong and united Europe”, she said. May said she spoke with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who expressed a desire for a free trade deal with Britain as soon as possible. “One of the ways we will do this is by embracing the opportunities to strike free trade deals with our partners across the globe”, May was quoted as saying.
She added: “It is very encouraging that one of our closest worldwide partners is already seeking to establish just such a deal”.
“We may have to say that the right to indefinite leave to remain protection only applies before a certain date”, Davis said in a separate interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper.
A vote last month to leave the European Union means Britain will have to renegotiate a raft of commercial ties.
But Mr Fox wants them ready to be signed the day Britain leaves – dubbed “B-Day” in Whitehall.
European Union leaders are pressing for a quick divorce, but May has urged them to give her time.
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Theresa May has told her senior ministers they have a responsibility to make Brexit work as she prepares to hold the first meeting of her Cabinet. And so what I’ve said is, let’s deal with that issue when we come to it.
