Boris Johnson stands firm on post Brexit trade, calls for solution

London, UK: In talks with French, German and European Union leaders on Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted on his position on trade after Northern Ireland and called for 'pragmatism and compromise' to find a solution. His spokesman told reporters that other issues had been raised in talks with the leaders and rejected the idea that President Emmanuel Macron had demanded that Britain abide by the separation agreement with the EU if it wanted a recovery in relations with France. Johnson, who is hosting a meeting of the G7 - the world's most advanced economies - in the southwest of England this weekend, would like to reduce a duel with the EU over their divorce agreement and focus on global issues.

However, the spokesperson said that the so-called Northern Ireland protocol, which is part of the Brexit agreement that trades with the British province, was raised on Saturday in talks with Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU leaders.

"It is important to emphasize again, with Macron and Merkel a number of issues have been raised. The Prime Minister has in all cases expressed confidence in the UK's position on the Northern Ireland Protocol and the desire for pragmatism and compromise on all sides,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about Macron's proposal for a relocation of relations if Britain showed that it would abide by the Brexit agreement he signed, he added: "This is not how I would characterize the meeting this morning. The Prime Minister and President Macron agreed that it was necessary to deepen the meeting. Bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and France.. there was no dependence on the connection with the protocol."