The Brexit transition period must be extended to two years, the Scottish Government insists.
Constitution Secretary Mike Russell has appealed for the maximum available time to seal a deal in a bid to avoid further unnecessary economic damage.
He says it's vital that the UK Government seek to ask the European Union to implement the full extension as soon as possible if it's to avoid further damage to jobs, wellbeing and the economy.
And he warns that it's reckless to continue negotiations, pushing forward its plans for a hard Brexit, at the height of the coronavirus crisis.
He has called for an urgent meeting to be held by video-conference with all four UK nations on the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations), which has not met in any form since January.
Mr Russell said: “Instead of its reckless decision to pursue a hard Brexit in the middle of this unprecedented crisis, the UK Government should today be asking the EU for the maximum two-year extension to the transition period.
“The benefits of co-ordinated European action have never been clearer.
“An extended transition will keep the UK as close as possible to the EU and provide an opportunity to re-think the future relationship.
“The UK Government is pressing ahead with negotiations without properly involving the Scottish Government, or taking account of our views.
“The Scottish economy cannot afford the double hit of COVID-19 and the growing likelihood of a ‘no deal’, or at best a hard Brexit deal, in less than nine months’ time.
“The voices of all four UK nations must be heard and I am therefore calling for an urgent meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations) which has the task of overseeing negotiations.
"Clearly if it does not meet, it cannot oversee.”
