EU–UK Spat Over Brexit Deal Clouds Key Trade Talks This Week

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, center right, and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Inter-institutional relations and Foresight Maros Sefcovic, center left, attend the third meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee at EU headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. John Thys, Pool via AP

BRUSSELS—Britain entered a crucial week of post-Brexit talks with the European Union on Sept. 28 by rejecting the EU’s demand that it drop plans to breach the legally binding agreement it signed on its departure from the bloc. The EU told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to brace for a legal fight.

The EU insisted that abiding by every last detail of the international treaty that regulated the UK’s departure on Jan. 31 was key to maintaining trust and hopes of salvaging a rudimentary trade deal in the next few weeks.