European Time on (11pm Greenwich Mean Time on 31 December 2020 in the UK), during which time the UK remained in the single market, in order to ensure frictionless trade until a long-term relationship was agreed. If no agreement was reached by this date, then the UK would have left the single market without a trade deal on 1 January 2021. Closely connected to the withdrawal agreement is a non-binding political declaration on the future EU–UK relationship. References External links Brexit timeline: events leading to the UK’s exit from the European Union (House of Commons research paper January 6 2021) Brexit Political timelines of the United Kingdom Brexit Brexit