He said the future rights of EU citizens in Britain and the status of the UK border with Ireland also need to advance before trade talks can begin. Britain agreed in 2013 to contribute to the EU budget until the end of 2020, and London is due to make further payments until 2023, he added.
On Friday, Britain's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said the UK will not agree on dozens of billion euros cost of leaving the EU, and urged the EU to move negotiations on to discuss Britain's future relationship with the bloc.