EU nations back post-Brexit trade deal with UK

European Union ambassadors gave their unanimous approval on Monday to the Brexit trade deal with the UK.

Germany, which holds the EU presidency, said the decision came during a meeting in Brussels on Monday to assess the Christmas Eve agreement.

It still needs approval from the EU’s legislature, which is expected to come in February. The UK’s House of Commons is expected to approve it on Wednesday.

The UK left the EU almost a year ago, but remained within the bloc's economic embrace during a transition period that ends at midnight Brussels time - 11 p.m. in London - on December 31.

The agreement, hammered out after nine months of tense negotiations, will ensure Britain and the 27-nation bloc can continue to trade in goods without tariffs or quotas.

That should help protect the 660 billion pounds (US$894 billion) in annual trade between the two sides, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that rely on it.