(VOVworld) – The Financial Times reported on Monday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has toughened her position on the UK’s exit bill. She insisted that Britain’s exit terms must be negotiated before talks begin on any new relationship with the EU. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May (Photo: Reuters)

While the Chancellor previously insisted she wanted to keep Britain “as close as possible” to the EU, Berlin has now given priority to maintaining the EU’s unity in the face of challenges including immigration, eurozone economic tensions, and populist attacks on the bloc from French and Polish nationalists.

Also on Monday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said China, Russia, Argentina, and the US are concerned about Brexit impacts on Britain’s commitments with WTO. Brexit means Britain will have to reconsider its WTO commitments as an independent member as opposed to its current EU-approved commitments.