‘Good Chances’ of Brexit Trade Deal in Coming Days, Says Coveney

Updated 1 hour ago

A POST-BREXIT trade deal can be reached in a few days, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said today, urging members of the European Union to “stay on their nerves.”

Negotiators from the UK and the EU, led by Lord Frost and Michel Barnier, chatted late into the night, bolstered by a pizza delivery, as efforts continued to reach an agreement that is due to take effect by the end of the month. .

Coveney said there is still a “good chance” that a deal can be made.

“It’s time to keep your nerves, to trust Michel Barnier, who has done a phenomenal job to date,” he said.

“I think if we do that, there is a good chance that we can reach an agreement in the next few days.”

Downing Street sources downplayed the prospect of an imminent breakthrough. “I have not seen any white smoke,” a source told the Palestinian Authority news agency.

No-deal scenario

Businesses are frustrated by the uncertainty around trade deals once the UK leaves the single market and customs union at the end of the year.

Tesco CEO Ken Murphy told Sky News that the supermarket giant is preparing for a no-deal scenario.

“We have been doing everything possible to ensure that we are in a good position to continue operating, to continue supplying our customers regardless of whether or not there is a no-deal Brexit,” he said.

“The biggest challenge we really face is cross-border product movement, product movement between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of course between continental Europe and the UK.

“That is an area where we would really urge the government to give us some clarity and allow us to better prepare the event for the end of December.”

Yesterday, Boris Johnson used the language of the referendum campaign to explain to Brussels that the UK’s “bottom line” in a post-Brexit trade deal is to “regain control.”

The UK prime minister said he is “absolutely committed” to trying to secure a deal “if we can” amid warnings that talks with the EU have reached a “make or break” point.

Reports have suggested that the UK has relaxed its demands for control of fishing rights, asking EU fishing fleets to hand over up to 60% of the value of the stocks currently caught instead of the 80% previously sought.

But this does not satisfy the demands of the EU in one of the most symbolically important aspects of the negotiations.