Following the EU-UK joint committee on the.......>

UK: Following the EU-UK joint committee on the Withdrawal Agreement meeting

today, Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael

Gove has issued a statement saying that in the meeting the UK gov't "...informed

the EU today that we will not extend the Transition Period."

- This means that if no trade agreement is in place as of Dec 31, the UK will

revert to WTO trading rules with the EU.

- The statement goes on to say "The moment for extension has now passed. At the

end of this year we will control our own laws and borders which is why we are

able to take the sovereign decision to introduce arrangements in a way that give

businesses impacted by coronavirus time to adjust."

- "Today's announcement is an important step towards getting the country ready

for the end of the Transition Period, but there is still more work to be done by

both gov't and industry to ensure we are ready to seize the opportunities of

being a fully independent UK."