European Union (EU) member states have urged the European Commissioner to be prepared for the possibility of a trade war with the UK if negotiations between the two sides fail, according to a report by The Financial Times.
Citing sources from a diplomat, the report showed that representatives from five member states had asked European Commission Brexit negotiator Maros Sefcovic to meet on Monday to develop an emergency response plan in the event of a trade war.
France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain are among the countries calling for contingency plans to be made should a final decision with the UK decide to dissolve the trade agreement in Northern Ireland protocol.
Several measures have reportedly been proposed including imposing tariffs on UK exports, restricting the country’s access from EU energy supplies, and halting the entire trade agreement between the two sides.
Earlier, Sefcovic had put forward a new proposal to resolve the EU -UK dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol issue. However, there are concerns that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reject the plan.
UK Brexit Minister David Frost will fly to Brussels on Friday to meet with Sefcovic to discuss the proposal.
