The United Kingdom has worked out a draft deal to split from the European Union, but an agreement is far from finalized as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces tough opposition from critics at home who have accused her of surrendering to Brussels.
What are the details?
According to The New York Times, British and E.U. officials penned an agreement on Tuesday, which will be reviewed and voted on by May's cabinet ministers on Wednesday.
If May's cabinet signs off on the deal, it would be sent to the E.U. for approval, and subsequently require the blessings of the European Parliament and British lawmakers.
Details of the agreement have not yet been released, but Nigel Dodds, the deputy leader of the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party told Reuters, "The trick will be for Theresa May, can she satisfy everyone?"
"It's going to be a very, very hard sell, I would have thought, but let's wait and see the actual details," he said.
Pro-Brexiteer and former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson — who resigned in July over May's handling of the negotiations — accused the prime minister of theatrics and warned Tuesday that whatever agreement she reached in Brussels "will mean surrender by the U.K." Johnson urged lawmakers to seek a better deal.
No one is fooled by this theatre. Delay after staged managed delay. A deal will be reached and it will mean surrender by the UK. We will be doomed to remain in the customs union and under Brussels’ regulatory control. People did not vote for colony status 1/2
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 13, 2018
We still have time to go for something better - a SuperCanada free trade deal that will allow the UK to benefit from brexit and actually respect the referendum. The future can be bright if only we change course now 2/2
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 13, 2018
Anything else?
Meanwhile, E.U. and U.K. officials alike are preparing contingency plans for a "no-deal" Brexit, in case the draft deal is rejected anywhere along its course, according to France 24.
Major British food manufacturer Premier Food told France 24 that it is preparing for any trading chaos that might arise if no deal is reached.
"In the absence of certainty over the arrangements for the U.K.'s departure from the E.U., the group shortly intends to start a process of building stocks of raw materials to protect the company against the risk of delays at ports," the company said.