British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns he could trigger a trade dispute mechanism against France, amid a post-Brexit fishing dispute which has sent diplomatic relations between Paris and London into freefall.
According to Press TV, tensions over fishing rights escalated on Thursday, when France seized a British trawler fishing in its territorial waters, saying it did not have the correct documentation.
To read fearless, unbiased, boldly selected news >>click << here
Paris has since threatened to block ports and increase checks on boats, in a move that has prompted an angry reaction from London that said French threats to disrupt British trade by blocking its trawlers will be met with an “appropriate and calibrated” response.
In an interview with Sky News, Johnson said on Saturday he is “worried” that Paris may have broken the Brexit treaty with regards to fishing.
He then promised that he will “do whatever is necessary to protect British interests.”
For more important information / news in English >>click<< here
Asked if he would rule out triggering dispute resolution measures in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) next week, Johnson said, “No of course not, I don’t rule that out.”
“But what I think everybody wants to see (is) cooperation between the European allies and Emmanuel Macron and I share a common perspective which is that climate change is a disaster for humanity,” he told Sky News in the Colosseum in Rome, where he is attending a G20 meeting.
To be a part of ‘Citizen Journalism’ through ‘Local News’ platform >>Click<< here
Fishing, which dogged Brexit talks for years, still remains a key issue between Britain and the European Union (EU). If not resolved, it could trigger the beginning of dispute measures in the Brexit trade deal.
French officials have warned that they will prevent British boats from landing their catches in some French ports next week unless the row is resolved by Tuesday.