International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has told Sky News that he "doesn't have a problem" with a Brexit implementation period.

Dr Fox, who has previously suggested a transition deal should last months and not years, said an implementation period of "a couple of years" might be "common sense".

This is because, according to Dr Fox, there was now "some uncertainty" as to whether Brexit Secretary David Davis will be able to conclude a trade deal with the EU by March 2019.

Speaking to me at the World Trade Organisation headquarters in Geneva, he said: "There's been a lot of talk as you know about an implementation period in the UK.

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"I don't have a problem with that... Having waited 43 years - another couple of years is, if we can get it to work well for UK and our European partners and for the stability of British business and our prosperity, that seems to me a common sense thing to do."

The International Trade Secretary was continuing the process of re-establishing independent British trade schedules at the Geneva-based organisation, in a meeting with the WTO chief Roberto Azevedo.

When asked after a tense press conference in Brussels between Michel Barnier and Mr Davis, whether it was really possible to keep to the timetable of March 2019, Dr Fox expressed doubts about getting a deal signed.

"It's possible. We expect to have our work in Geneva done on time. We expect to have the legislation we need in the UK to get EU law into UK law done on time," he said.

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"The bit I think where there's some uncertainty is when will we conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union - that's yet unknown and that's a matter for David Davis and his team to look at and obviously we want to get that done as quickly as possible."

Prime Minister Theresa May also appears to be warming towards Chancellor Philip Hammond's argument for a transitional period of two or more years to give Britain time to adjust to leaving the single market.

She has told business leaders that "the Government's overarching goal is for a smooth, orderly exit culminating in a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU, with a period of implementation in order to avoid any cliff-edges".

That transition deal is expected to include the free movement of people for up to four years after Britain leaves the European Union.

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"Fundamental" differences over EU citizens' rights and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice have emerged between Britain and Brussels after the first substantive week of Brexit negotiations between Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary David Davis.

The new disputes include Brussels' attempts to block the UK carrying out criminal record checks on EU nationals who apply for settled status after Brexit.

Brussels has also rejected UK demands that British citizens resident in an EU country should have their right to move to any other of the 27 nations enshrined in any settlement.