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Boris Johnson has said that concluding a Brexit trade deal “looks very, very difficult right now” as he prepares for a decisive visit to Brussels.
The prime minister spoke with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, by phone on Monday, in which both agreed that there are still “significant differences” on key issues.
Mr Johnson and Ms Von der Leyen plan to meet in person in Brussels “in the next few days”, hoping they can push through a deal despite months of stalemate.
However, during a visit to an NHS site on Tuesday, when the first COVID-19 vaccine was launched in the UK, the prime minister issued a warning that a deal may not be reached.
“You have to be optimistic, you have to believe that there is the power of sweet reason to push this out of line,” he said.
“But I have to tell you that it seems very, very difficult right now.
“We will do our best, but I would tell everyone: be in a good mood, there are great options ahead for our country from any point of view.
“But the key is that, on January 1, whatever happens, there will be a change and people must prepare for that change.”
Johnson said that “there may come a time when we have to recognize that it is time to draw obstacles” and establish a no-deal outcome before the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.
He added that the UK and the EU are “still a long way off” on the issue of fisheries.
The Prime Minister and Ms Von der Leyen have also highlighted so-called “level playing field” commitments and governance issues as other important points.
Johnson urged European leaders to “understand that the UK has left the EU in order to exercise democratic control over the way we do things.”
And he vowed that Britain “will prosper mightily” whatever the outcome of the trade negotiations.
Without a post-Brexit trade deal to be agreed at the end of this month, the EU and the UK will likely have to negotiate under World Trade Organization rules with tariffs imposed in both directions.
The prime minister has often referred to this scenario as “Australian” terms of trade with the bloc, as Australia does not have a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU.
Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, German Europe Minister Michael Roth called for “political will in London” to reach a trade deal between the EU and the UK.
“It is good that every effort is made to find a good and sustainable solution,” he said.
“We want to reach an agreement, but not at any price. What we need is political will in London. Let me be very clear, our future relationship is based on trust and security.”
“It is precisely this trust that is at stake in our negotiations at this time.”
EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday for a European Council summit, although Brexit is not yet on the agenda.
