France agreed to lift suspension of movements into and out of U.K. following closures on a new strain of COVID-19 virus, according to Bloomberg. Still, European Union citizens and residents will need to show negative COVID-19 tests to travel from the U.K.
- France’s decision to end suspension comes at a time critical trade and transportation links were crippled, paralyzing Britain’s busiest port.
- France cut off shipments from Dover in southeast England on Sunday over concern of a faster-spreading variant of Covid-19 that prompted the U.K. government to lockdown London and surrounding areas.
- Subject to negotiations between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the new travel restrictions will apply until at least January 6.
- E.U. ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed to continue monitoring the U.K.’S epidemiological situation closely
- On Tuesday, the European Commission called its member states to reopen critical trade and passenger transports links to the U.K. but discouraged non-essential travel.
- France’s decision comes as negotiations of a trade deal with the U.K. are underway with both sides expected to agree as soon as Wednesday.
European stocks are currently gaining, as the U.K. loses. Euro is losing against the pound. DAX is up 1.30%, FTSE 100 is down 0.26%, EURGBP is down 0.32%
