Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator is warning that the risk of having Britain leaving the 28-nation bloc without a ratified deal still remains.
Michael Barnier said during a speech in Brussels that a no-deal Brexit "could happen at the end of January" if British lawmakers fail to ratify the new divorce agreement between the EU and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The EU has allowed Britain to delay its Brexit departure up to Jan. 31. Britain, meanwhile, is holding a new election on Dec. 12.
Once the divorce deal is ratified, Britain will remain inside the bloc's single market and bound by its rules until the end of December 2020, while the two sides devise a new trade relationship during a transition period.
Barnier said a no-deal Brexit "could also happen at the end of 2020."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
