EU eyes quick Brexit transition deal, trade pact to take time

Businesses fretting about Brexit should get reassurance early in the new year that little will change for a couple of years after Britain leaves the European Union in less then 16 months, EU officials said on Friday.The full-blown free trade agreement that London wants will take considerably longer, however.Negotiations will start only later in 2018 and lead at best to a "political declaration" of intent before Brexit.