UK Prime Minister Theresa May cited endorsed remarks by Roberto Azevêdo, the director general of the World Trade Organization regarding no-deal Brexit. May said, a no-deal situation “will not be a walk in the park, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world”. May added that “what the government is doing is putting in place the preparation such that if we are in that situation, we can make a success of it, just as we can make a success of a good deal.”
Chancellor of Exchequer Philip Hammond warned last week that a no-deal Brexit would costs UK GBP 80B in extra borrowing and inhibit long term growth. But May tried to talk that down and said the figures dated back to January and “they were a work in progress at that particular time.” Regarding the time frame of Brexit negotiation, May said “we are all working to the October deadline” because “from our point of view there is some legislation we have to get through parliament”.
Separately, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said “Regrettably, a hard Brexit is not off the table.” French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe also “tasked ministers to prepare contingency measures that would be necessary … to mitigate the difficulties linked with this unprecedented challenge”.
