France rejects 11-month deadline UK sets on EU trade talks

BRUSSELS (AP) — France made it clear Friday that it does not want to be shackled to the tight deadline British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seeking to impose for the upcoming free trade talks between Britain and the European Union.

Johnson has said discussions about the future must be completed by the end of 2020 and that there is ample time to agree a wide-ranging deal.

France's EU minister was skeptical and said it could take three times longer.

Amelie de Montchalin said EU member states would bide their time even if that risks causing a chaotic no-deal transition at the end of the year.

“If Boris Johnson says it must end in 11 months from now and we need 15, 24 or 36 months, the 27 will take their time,” she said.

It has already taken the U.K. more than 3 1/2 years to leave the EU following its June 2016 Brexit referendum.

Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on Jan. 31 at which point it enters a standstill period whereby it remains within the European single market and customs union until the end of 2020. After Brexit day, official discussions are set to begin on the future relationship between Britain and the EU - since the Brexit vote in June 2016, discussions have only centered on aspects related to the divorce such as citizens' rights and Britain's financial liability.

Forging a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and a third country usually talks years, not months, and Johnson's timeline is viewed as unrealistic across the bloc.

The European Commission has said it might be possible to tackle some selected items in 2020, such as fishing rights, but that comprehensive discussions from trade to security would need longer.

French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this week that in light of Johnson's insistence that negotiations on the...