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Thousands of German businesses sought advice in recent weeks on how to prepare for Britain's exit from the European Union in a sign they are "highly uneasy", the head of the DIHK Chambers of Industry and Commerce was cited as saying on Monday.
DIHK President Eric Schweitzer told the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper that it was more important than ever for German firms to prepare for the different possible forms of Brexit, adding of the negotiations: "The cat and mouse game is never ending."
Britain is due to leave the EU in March, but talks on managing the unprecedented split have been stalled over differences on how to avoid border checks between EU member Ireland and Britain's province of Northern Ireland.
To help its members prepare for Brexit, the DIHK has produced a "Brexit Checklist" that addresses questions including customs duties, contracts and taxes.
"More than 11,000 downloads (of the checklist) in recent weeks shows that companies are highly uneasy," Schweitzer said in comments published in the Passauer Neue Presse on Monday.
Brexiteers warned UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday night that she could keep Britain within European Union customs arrangements only until 2022, The Times reported on Monday.May hopes to unlock talks that have become stuck over the so-called Irish backstop, The Times reported. https://bit.ly/2E6yvlBThe newspaper added that leading Conservative Leave figures said they were prepared to give May room for manoeuvre but that any extension could run only until the next election in 2022. UK PM May seeks support as others draw Brexit battle linesScotland's Sturgeon says her party likely to vote against Brexit dealIrish foreign minister says good chance of getting Brexit deal
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The U.K. would be welcomed into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “with open arms” after Brexit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.Abe's comments to Financial Times came just before the crucial few weeks that will shape a Brexit deal between the U.K. and the EU.He said Britain would lose its role as a gateway to the EU following Brexit, but would still remain a country “equipped with global strength”, but also warned the negotiating sides to use “wisdom” to avoid a no-deal scenario.“I hope that both sides can contribute their wisdom and at least avoid a so-called disorderly Brexit,” Abe said. “I truly hope that the negative impact of Brexit to the global economy, including Japanese businesses, will be minimised,” he added.The TPP has 11 members including Japan, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Mexico.Brexit talks have stalled after the EU rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Chequers deal in September during an informal summit held in Salzburg.UK PM May seeks support as others draw Brexit battle linesThe U.K. is “not afraid” to leave the EU “with no deal if it has to,” May said last week.Speaking at the Conservative Party autumn conference, May said leaving the bloc with no deal would be tough and difficult at first with tariffs imposed, however, the U.K. would eventually prosper.Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab also accused the EU of not matching Britain's efforts in his speech, demanding “more respect” from the bloc in Brexit talks.The U.K. and EU negotiators will meet in mid-October and try to ink a deal on sticky issues such as the future of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, citizens’ rights, and future trade relations between the sides.An emergency Brexit summit will be called if the parties progress on a possible deal, according to EU leaders.The U.K. is set to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.Rabat leaves Japan-hosted TICAD meeting over Polisario
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