Canada Finance Minister says no UK trade deal until after Brexit

Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said his country would not be negotiating any trade deal with the UK before its departure from the European Union.

Morneau (pictured) was asked by the BBC whether the UK and Canada could strike a deal on the same terms as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) free-trade deal with the EU that took seven years to complete. The deal removes 99% of tariffs.

“We’re going to respect the agreement that the UK has with Europe ... and stand ready to work together after that’s concluded.”

The UK voted to leave the 28 member EU in June but will stay inside the bloc until talks are concluded by 2019.

"Our expectation is that Britain will ratify the CETA deal and be part of that deal with Canada," Morneau said.