Germany's Angela Merkel made it clear to Britain that 'they are still in charge' no way they can negotiate trade with non-EU countries as they have not be officially exit EU membership

Angela Merkel

GERMANY has ordered Britain not to start negotiations for trade deals with non-EU members before it leaves the European Union (EU).

In an intervention bound to infuriate Downing Street ministers in Berlin instructed the Government to ditch informal talks it has opened with countries including Australia and India. 

Theresa May

The unhelpful remarks came as Prime Minister Theresa May attempted to drum up support for free trade deals during the G20 summit in China.

Until Britain officially leaves the bloc no negotiations with other nations can take place, according to draconian EU rules.

And Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Angela Merkels’ government, said: “As spokesman of the German government, I am not going to judge who the British prime minister holds talks with.

But Mr Seibert stressed “it is clear that an EU member state cannot hold bilateral talks on free trade deals with non-EU states as long as it remains a member of the EU”.

Germany has repeatedly stressed that Berlin and other EU members cannot begin any informal exit talks with the UK before Article 50 is triggered.

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to deliver Brexit, following the historic June 23 referendum.

But former negotiators say firm deals could be years away with other countries reluctant to get involved in detailed discussions until Britain's future ties with the EU are clear.