BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on Britain’s upcoming exit from the European Union (all times local):
1:00 p.m.
The European Union’s top trade official is playing down the importance of a U.S. announcement that it will pursue a trade deal with Britain, noting London cannot negotiate such pacts until it leaves the bloc.
The U.S. administration has notified Congress that it will seek trade pacts with the EU, Japan and Britain. President Donald Trump has long said he wants a deal with Britain, even as it negotiates a messy EU exit.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom recalled Wednesday that “the U.K. cannot negotiate any trade agreement as long as they are a member of the European Union.”
Speaking ahead of a Brexit summit in Brussels, Malmstrom said the Europeans “see this merely as preparations being made by the U.S. to negotiate with them and others.”
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10:05 a.m.
European Union leaders are converging on Brussels for what had been billed as a “moment of truth” Brexit summit but which now holds little promise for a breakthrough.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to urge her counterparts to give ground on Britain’s departure from the bloc, while EU leaders hope she brings “concrete proposals” to break the deadlock.
EU Council President Donald Tusk says “creative” thinking is required to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland in the U.K.
Britain leaves the EU on March 29 but a deal must be sealed soon so relevant parliaments have time to give their verdict.
Wednesday’s summit comes as a new survey shows that 62 percent of Europeans consider EU membership to be a good thing.
