Britain, Canada strike short-term deal to avoid post-Brexit tariffs By Ambar Warrick and Devik Jain
PMs Johnson and Trudeau at G7 summit 2019 in Biarritz
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada and Britain said they struck a short-term deal on Tuesday to ensure that free trade between the two after Brexit can continue until the Canadian parliament approves a new bilateral agreement.
As Britain prepares to end its transition out of the European Union on Dec. 31, it has negotiated many roll-over bilateral deals to maintain trade, including with Canada.
But Canada’s House of Commons failed to ratify the document in time, meaning the two nations would in theory have had to impose tariffs on each other starting on Jan 1.
For U K , an Early Taste of Brexit as Borders Are Sealed
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Europe isolates Britain, France closes all borders, as new covid-19 strain soar by 190,000 in seven days
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By JONATHAN POWELL in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-12-21 09:25 Share CLOSE People walk past a sign with a public health information message after Downing Street imposed new restrictions to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease on Sunday. [TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS]
The British government had no choice but to cancel plans for a relaxation of rules over the Christmas period and strict measures to control the novel coronavirus could remain in place until a vaccine is rolled out , said Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Sunday.
Under new Tier 4 rules, around one-third of the population of England is now forbidden from spending Christmas with other households after Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday abandoned plans to allow five-day gatherings, having previously defended the festive relaxation policy.
Countries halt flights from Britain over concerns about coronavirus mutation
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December 20, 2020
A wave of European countries and some beyond the continent, including Canada are restricting travel from the United Kingdom amid mounting fears about an infectious new strain of the novel coronavirus first detected in England.
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland were among those that announced bans Sunday, with others expected to follow. British officials have reported that a mutation of the virus appears to speed its transmission, and they have imposed restrictions on 18 million people in London and across southern England.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC Sunday that “the new variant is out of control.”