French Government say they will not be blackmailed on a bad trade deal
The UK and EU 27 are holding discussions during the transition period
France has warned the UK that it will not be "blackmailed" into accepting a "bad" post-Brexit trade deal because of Boris Johnson's December 31 deadline.
Ministers from the 27 remaining European Union members will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to agree the negotiating mandate for the talks on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.
In a sign that the EU is prepared to take a tough line, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted that her country's farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.
Boris Johnson has ruled out extending the transition period beyond December 31, meaning the UK will do business with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms on January 1 2021 unless an agreement with Brussels is in place.
Published: by Radio NewsHub