Coming weeks, months unprecedented in Brexit negotiations: British Brexit secretary

LONDON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The next few months will be unprecedented as Britain and the European Union work together to provide much needed clarity and security over Brexit, British Brexit Secretary David Davis said in a keynote speech Friday.

Addressing a business audience in northeast England, the official spoke about the bridge Britain plans to build to smooth the path to its new relationship with the EU after Brexit.

Davis said a strictly time limited implementation period, beyond the March, 2019 when Britain will leave the EU, will form a sound basis for British future prosperity.

He also made it clear that during the implementation period Britain will be free to strike new trade deals around the world.

Davis said: "For the first time in more than 40 years, we will be able to step out and sign new trade deals with old friends, and new allies, around the globe.

"Increasingly, we are trading with the key emerging markets of the world in Asia and the Americas."

He added: "But participating in a (European) customs union should not and will not preclude us from formally negotiating, and indeed signing, independent trade agreements. Although, of course, they would not enter into force until the implementation period has ended."

Davis said in the coming days and weeks, he and government Brexit officials will travel to Brussels to meet with counterparts, and talk about the next phase.

"We will launch exploratory talks about the future relationship. But our immediate goal, will be to reach an agreement on the implementation period. And because our objectives are largely the same, I am confident that political agreement can be reached at the March European Council," said Davis.

Davis said without a "bridge" to the future, investment would be delayed, slowing job creation and stifling hard-won economic growth upon which Europe depends.

"It should come as no surprise that similar arguments for this bridge, this implementation period, have been deployed by both sides," said Davis.

Davis said it is only by being outside the EU, but continuing with the existing structures of rules and regulation, that the requirements for a smooth, orderly and successful exit can be met.

"For such a (transitional) period to work, both sides must continue to follow the same, stable set of laws and rules without compromising the integrity of the single market, and the customs union to which we will maintain access on current terms," he said, adding: "And it's in that spirit we should approach the implementation period as the bridge to this new relationship. That means each side committing not to taking any action that undermines the other."

Meanwhile, a new poll revealed Friday night that British voters support the idea of holding a second EU referendum by a 16-point margin. According to one of the largest nationwide opinion polls since the Brexit vote in June, 2016, an ICM survey for the Guardian newspaper found 47 percent favor having a final say on Brexit once the terms of Britain's departure are known, while 34 percent oppose reopening the question. Enditem