BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel signalled a growing reluctance to grant any special trade relations to the UK once it leaves the EU, saying that allowing exemptions to EU rules on migration would lead to a free-for-all across the bloc.Merkel’s comments to Germany’s BDI industry lobby in Berlin on Thursday are a further indication that the UK risks a so-called hard Brexit, whereby it gives priority to controlling migration over seeking as much access as possible to the EU single market of about 500-million people.The chancellor referred in her speech to Prime Minister Theresa May’s time line of triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of March, and reiterated there would be no talks before then. Even after that point, "there will be no easy negotiations", she said.The central question then will be "how much access to the single market does Great Britain get, and in a reciprocal way, how much access to the British market do we get?" Merkel told an audience of bus...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.