EU fumes over British defiance, but will press on with Brexit talks

FILE PHOTO: Member of the European Parliament Manfred Weber is seen during a plenary session on a new proposal for the EU's joint 2021-27 budget and an accompanying Recovery Instrument to kickstart economic activity in the bloc ravaged by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brussels, Belgium, May 27, 2020. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union responded with dismay on Wednesday after Britain proposed legislation that could snuff out hopes for a Brexit trade pact, but officials said Brussels would not walk away from talks to avoid a damaging 'no-deal' at the year's end.

Britain published a bill that explicitly acknowledges the government could break international law by ignoring some parts of the binding Withdrawal Agreement it signed with the EU in January.