On ‘Brexit,’ It’s Divorce First, Trade Talks Later, E.U.

Tells U.K.

BRUSSELS — Britain must agree to pay its bills and to protect

millions of Europeans living in Britain before reaching a new
trading relationship with the European Union, Donald Tusk, the
president of the European Council, said on Friday.

Side-by-side divorce and trade talks “will not happen,” Mr. Tusk
said at a news conference in Malta. Divorce has to come first, he
said, and he warned that the negotiations could be “confrontational.”

Mr. Tusk also wrote on Twitter: “Our duty is to minimize

uncertainty, disruption caused by Brexit for citizens, businesses &
Member States. It’s about damage control.” He added that the
European Union would not pursue a “punitive approach,” because
“Brexit in itself is already punitive enough.”

He also wrote: “After more than 40 years of being united, we owe it

to each other to make this divorce as smooth as possible.”

“This is my first divorce, and I hope the last one.”

The words were tough, but unsurprising: For months, since Britain
voted in a June 23 referendum to leave the bloc, Brussels has
insisted that the terms of a future trade agreement would not be
negotiated until the terms of the divorce were clear.

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