‘Still a chance’ for post-Brexit trade deal: Merkel

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed hope on Wednesday that the UK and the EU could reach a post-Brexit trade deal in the coming days.

“There is still a chance for an agreement,” she told German lawmakers during a debate on her government’s 2021 budget proposal.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to know by tomorrow whether we would achieve this or not. I can’t promise that. But we are still working on it,” she added.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday evening in a last-ditch attempt to reach a post-Brexit trade deal before the transition period expires on Dec. 31.

Merkel said the EU members were also ready for a no-deal scenario if the British side would raise unacceptable conditions during the negotiations.

The leaders of EU member states will gather in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit to discuss UK's exit from the bloc, COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and other international issues.