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Post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and the European Union will continue in London, as Michel Barnier said both sides have a “common responsibility” to reach an agreement.
The European Union’s top negotiator is expected to continue talks with his British counterpart, David Frost, as the deadline for a deal approaches.
The talks had been in limbo after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson passed the deadline for a deal last week, but resumed yesterday when the EU said both sides needed to compromise on trade issues.
Upon arriving in London, Barnier said it was important to get back to the table. “I think we have a huge common responsibility. Every day counts.”
The UK government acknowledged that “significant gaps” remain between the two parties and that it was “entirely possible that the negotiations were not successful.”
The main obstacles remain fishing rights, the governance of any agreement, and a “level playing field” to prevent unfair competition, including state subsidies.
There is little time to reach an agreement before the end of the transition period on December 31.
Both parties had previously said that an agreement should be reached in mid-October to allow time for ratification.
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“Time is now very short and we have repeatedly made it clear that any agreement must be in place before the end of the transition period and if an agreement cannot be reached, we will leave in terms of Australian style,” a spokesperson for Johnson, he told reporters, using the government’s term for no deal.
“Both sides have agreed to a genuine intensification of the negotiations with talks taking place every day, even on weekends.”
There has been some movement on the margins, but at a briefing with diplomats in Brussels late Wednesday, Barnier said he was only concerned about fish, said a person who participated in the meeting behind closed doors.
“Fish is now the thing to tackle. The other elements seem doable, more or less,” the diplomat said.
Britain wants control of its waters and annual quota negotiations, while the EU wants continuous access for its boats, and the French are particularly concerned about losing their catches.
After Johnson walked away from the talks last week, EU officials have grown increasingly frustrated with British tactics which, in their view, simply waste valuable time on unnecessary theatricals.
But the British side has argued that it must defend its position and fulfill Johnson’s promise to “regain control.” Some on his team saw a small victory in the EU by speaking of British sovereignty to get the talks back on track.
A no-deal end to Britain’s five-year Brexit drama would disrupt the operations of manufacturers, retailers, farmers, and nearly every other sector just as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic worsens.
Additional Reuters reports
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