Leonid Bershidsky, Columnist

Britain Negotiates Its EU Exit With a Weak Hand

To maintain its pre-eminence, Britain's financial sector needs Europe.

First impressions.

Photographer: Adam Berry/Getty Images
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As the U.K.'s new prime minister, Theresa May, met with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Wednesday to open informal Brexit talks that European Union leaders insisted would not take place, the key question concerns the strength of the negotiating positions. Both May and Merkel are no-nonsense leaders, and their interaction won't be driven by emotion: It'll be about how much the EU and the U.K. need each other.

QuickTake Brexit