EU tells UK breaking international law uncacceptable

Prospects of a trade deal between Britain and the European Union appeared to dim Wednesday, with the EU saying that even the smallest U.K. breach of the Brexit withdrawal treaty would undermine what little trust is left between the two sides.

The warning came as Britain pushed ahead with legislation that it admits breaks international law by overriding parts of the legally binding withdrawal agreement that both Britain and the EU signed up to.

“Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the confidence we need to build our future relationship,’″ EU Council President Charles Michel said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the age-old diplomatic cornerstone of “agreements must be kept” was “the foundation of prosperous future relations.”

Germany hoped Britain would pull back from the brink, but France, the bloc’s other economic and political powerhouse, was scathing.

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said that “we are ready to negotiate in good faith, but to do that, we need to be two and so we are waiting for an interlocutor of good faith.”-AP