IMF urges extension for post-Brexit trade deal talks
IMF has urged the UK and the European Union to prolong the timeframe for negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal.
Media reports said that Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, has advised that extending the time will be wise.
She said that because of the pandemic’s “unprecedented uncertainty,” it would be “wise not to add more on top of it.”
“I really hope that all policy makers everywhere would be thinking about [reducing uncertainty. It is tough as it is, let’s not make it any tougher.”
“My advice would to seek ways in which this element of uncertainty reduced in the interests of everybody, the UK, the EU, and the whole world,” she also stated.
The UK government has opted to create a law to extend the implementation period of Brexit passing the end of the year.
This means that without an agreement, from the beginning of next year, the UK and the EU will compete on terms of the World Trade Organization including substantial new taxes and export controls.
Previously, both the UK and the EU announced a condensed timetable for holding three video conference negotiation sessions.
Ms Georgieva says she’s now searching for ways to help mitigate “a global recession we haven’t seen in our lifetimes.”
The IMF leader, a former European Commission vice-president, also praised the “early” and well-coordinated economic response to the crisis from the UK Treasury and Bank of England.
She said, “A very strong package of measures is helping the UK, but given the UK’s sizeable role in the world economy, it’s actually helping everyone”.
The IMF is currently holding a virtual version of its annual meetings with ministers and bankers of world finance.
