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Sources in Whitehall suggested last night that a deal was unlikely before next week at the earliest, as talks between the two sides are still practically in a desperate attempt to secure a deal. The UK is ready to leave the single market and the customs union in any case, but work continues on an agreement to allow smooth trade without quotas or tariffs.
However, talks between the two sides have stalled on the issues of fishing rights, the governance of any agreement, and “level playing field” conditions aimed at preventing unfair competition by cutting standards or increasing subsidies. state.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “It is no secret that there have been two difficult spots: state aid and fisheries.
“Our negotiating team is working hard to try to make a breakthrough and ensure that we have a free trade agreement and a future partnership.”
Mr Eustice emphasized that the UK government wanted to achieve duty-free trade in all goods, but emphasized that the UK “accepted that the EU was not open to any kind of special agreement”, so since then “we have been working in a simple trade a very similar deal to the EU / Canada. “
Referring to the current EU negotiations, he said: “You can lead a horse into the water but you cannot make it drink and if the EU is reluctant or unwilling to sign a duty-free trade agreement, then we as a country would do so. “. to review what our response to that would be. “
Speaking at the Holyrood Environment Committee, Mr Eustice also admitted that the UK had increased its patrol of UK waters before the end of the transition period amid growing fears that Michel Barnier and his team would not they will yield.
He added: “The biggest challenges will come in the channel and the southern North Sea, so we have increased our patrol capacity by approximately five times, with additional Royal Navy vessels.”
A Whitehall source close to the negotiations said this was similar to the current situation between the two parties.
READ MORE: France says it will NEVER back down on fishing in the Brexit showdown
He added: “Throughout the negotiation, our position has always been clear.”
The Office of Budget Responsibility also laid bare the economic importance of a deal, warning that failure to reach an agreement could result in a 2 percent impact on gross domestic product, the standard measure of the size and health of the economy of a nation.
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “The prime minister believes that the UK will prosper with or without a deal with the EU.
“But our ambition remains to reach an FTA and that is why we continue to negotiate.”
“But our ambition is still to reach an FTA and that is why we continue to negotiate.”
Tonight, the EU Parliament also approved a mini trade deal with the United States, which will include the removal of tariffs on lobster imports from the United States.
The Bloc will now eliminate its 8 percent tariff on US lobsters for the next five years and will work to make the measure permanent.
Imports to the EU were worth £ 83 million in 2017 before falling amid mounting tensions between trading partners.
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