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Johnson to press EC president for quick trade talks

Meanwhile, some of Johnson's ministers are pushing for talks on a UK-US trade deal to go ahead, to pressure the EU

Published Tue, Jan 7, 2020 · 09:50 PM

London

BORIS Johnson will be doing his utmost to persuade European Union (EU) negotiators to speed up trade talks after Brexit takes place on Jan 31.

He aims to complete a trade deal with the EU by year's end, though the new president of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen - who arrives for talks with the British prime minister on Wednesday - doubts this can be done.

She, along with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, have said in recent weeks that it will be exceedingly difficult to complete the negotiations in only 11 months. The talks are also e…