The slog begins: Britain and the EU

https://espresso.economist.com/47c917b09f2bc64b2916c0824c715923

Jan 15th 2018

The slog begins: Britain and the EU

After the cabinet reshuffle, the agenda of Theresa May, the prime minister, will again become dominated by Brexit.

• reshuffle 〈比喻〉(政府等的)改组；重新配置；(牌的)重洗

The EU wants a deal by October, allowing time for ratification before March 2019, Britain’s leaving date.

• ratification 认可；正式批准；承认

Negotiations on a transition period, during which the country will probably still follow EU rules, start this month and should be straightforward.

Tougher will be trade—particularly how to handle regulatory divergence.

• divergence 分歧；发散

The EU is talking tough: if Britain leaves the single market and customs union, and wants to set its own regulations, any deal must mainly be restricted to goods.

• restricted （大小或数量）有限的；（指能做的事）有限的；受（法规）制约的

Britain also wants free access for services, particularly finance firms.

It is unique, it says, in starting negotiations in full compliance with EU law.

• compliance 遵从；顺从；服从

EU leaders will issue negotiating guidelines by April.

But when hard bargaining begins, Britain hopes the EU countries’ united front will crumble.

• bargaining ［n.］讨价还价；商谈；商讨
• crumble 崩溃；崩裂；瓦解

Several have much to lose from erecting trade barriers.

• erect 建立；树立
• trade barrier 贸易障碍，贸易壁垒