Boris Johnson Says ‘Strong Possibility’ of No-Deal Brexit

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson sits in front of a Union flag as he talks with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan inside 10 Downing Street in central London, on Dec. 10, 2020. Gareth Fuller/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday there is now a “strong possibility” that the UK will not strike a trade deal with the European Union before the Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31.

“We need to be very, very clear there’s now a strong possibility, strong possibility that we will have a solution that’s much more like an Australian relationship with the EU, than a Canadian relationship with the EU,” Johnson told reporters.

“Australian relationship” is a euphemism for no-deal Brexit, as Australia, unlike Canada, does not yet have a free trade agreement with the EU.

Johnson held face-to-face talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over dinner in Brussels on Wednesday evening, but failed to break the deadlock in bilateral talks on post-Brexit trade relations.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is welcomed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prior to a working dinner at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on Dec. 9, 2020. Olivier Hoslet/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Talking to the media on Thursday, Johnson criticised the EU for seeking “equivalence” between the two sides, “which basically means whatever new laws they brought in, we would have to follow or else face punishments, sanctions, tariffs, or whatever.”

By doing so, the EU is trying to keep the UK “locked in the EU’s orbit,” he said.

Another sticking point has been fishing rights. Johnson said it is “no good” if Britain does not have full control over its waters after quitting the EU.

Johnson said Britain would continue the talks and he himself would go to Brussels, Paris, or Berlin to try to get a deal.

But he said, “now is the time for the public and for businesses to get ready for January 1st, because believe me, there is going to be change either way.”

Earlier on Thursday, the European Commission unveiled a series of “targeted contingency measures” to prepare for the possible “no-deal” scenario.

“Negotiations are still ongoing. However, given that the end of the transition is very near, there is no guarantee that, if and when an agreement is found, it can enter into force on time,” Commission President von der Leyen said.

“Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities, including not having a deal in place with the UK on Jan. 1, 2021. That is why we are coming forward with these measures today.”

The UK officially left the EU in January 2020 but trading arrangements—such as tariffs and quotas—have remained unchanged during the Brexit transition period, which will end on Dec. 31.

If no trade deal with the EU is reached by then, Britain will default to trading with the 27 EU countries under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Reuters contributed to this report.