After Brexit, the UK would become a "third country" in EU terms, Correspondent.net reports.
European Union's top trade official Cecilia Malmstrom says the UK cannot begin negotiating terms for doing business with the bloc until after it has left.
"First you exit then you negotiate," Cecilia Malmstrom told BBC Newsnight.
After Brexit, the UK becomes a "third country" in EU terms, i.e. the trade will be conducted under WTO rules, while the terms of a new agreement between the UK and EU are discussed.
As an example Malmstrom provided Canada, which concluded trade agreement with EU after 7 years of negotiations. However, it will come into force after ratification by each of the members of the Union, and that will take other several years.
In case with the UK, the negotiation process cannot even start, the European Commissioner emphasizes.
"The referendum - which of course we take note of and respect - has no legal effect. First there has to be notification, which the next prime minister will do, I hope swiftly. And then that process can start", Cecilia Malmstrom explained.
