Goods to Southampton Port, the UK  (Photo: AFP/VNA)

After leaving the EU last month, Britain has until the end of the year to negotiate a trade deal and agreements on everything from fishing to transport. So if, by June, good progress has not been made on Britain’s demand for what it calls a “standard” free trade agreement or even on the “least controversial areas” of the talks, London says it will focus on preparations for a sharp break with the EU. At the end of the transition period later this year, the UK will fully recover its economic and political independence, according to the mandate.