In this Jan 31, 2020 photo, a worker folds the EU flag after being lowered at the British territory of Gibraltar. (PHOTO / AP)

LONDON/BRUSSELS - Ambassadors of European Union governments in Brussels approved on Monday the provisional application from Jan 1, 2021 of the EU-Britain trade deal struck last week.

“EU Ambassadors have unanimously approved the provisional application of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement as of January 1, 2021,” the spokesman for the German EU Presidency Sebastian Fischer said on Twitter.

The deal, which ended nine months of negotiations, will now be approved by all 27 EU governments in writing by 1400 GMT on Tuesday, Fischer said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed Britain’s trade deal with the European Union as a new starting point for relations with the bloc in a call with the President of the European Council Charles Michel on Monday.

“Just spoken with @eucopresident Charles Michel. I welcomed the importance of the UK/EU Agreement as a new starting point for our relationship, between sovereign equals,” Johnson said on Twitter.

“We looked forward to the formal ratification of the agreement and to working together on shared priorities, such as tackling climate change.”

Britain on Monday urged businesses to prepare for Brexit, just days before a transition period designed to smooth the UK’s departure from the European Union comes to an end.

READ MORE: It's not over: Major issues Brexit deal leaves unresolved

Britain and the EU clinched the trade deal on Thursday - one which preserves zero-tariff and zero-quota access to the bloc’s single market but which will still cause disruption.

The transition period, under which Britain stayed aligned to the EU’s trading and regulatory rules, ends at 2300 GMT on Dec 31.

The transition period, under which Britain stayed aligned to the EU’s trading and regulatory rules, ends at 2300 GMT on Dec 31

“The deal is done, but with big change comes challenge and opportunity,” cabinet office minister Michael Gove said in a statement, adding that businesses need to adjust to Britain’s departure from the EU Single Market and Customs Union.

“There are practical and procedural changes that businesses and citizens need to get ready for, and time to make these final preparations is very short.”

The transition period was initially agreed to keep existing trade ties unchanged for 21 months after the original planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.

But the period was not extended after Brexit was delayed until Jan 31, 2020, and, with over 1,000 pages of trade agreement published in full on Saturday, businesses have less than a week to adjust to the new rules.

Britain had urged businesses to make preparations for the end of the transition period prior to the end of trade negotiations, saying many of the changes they needed to make would apply regardless of the outcome of the talks.

ALSO READ: Brexit trade deal published as UK calls for end to 'ugly' divisions

The government said that businesses needed to understand new rules on importing and exporting goods between the EU and Great Britain, and the different rules that apply to trade with Northern Ireland.

Businesses will also need to make customs declarations on EU trade, while hauliers need a permit to go to ports in the county of Kent or risk a fine.