The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said that a Brexit trade deal is now looking “unlikely” as a British stubbornness on a number of issues. Speaking today after a further on round of negotiations in London Michel Barnier has stated that “the time for answers is quickly running out”.
Mr Barnier went on to say : “By its current refusal to commit to open and fair competition and to a balanced agreement on fisheries, the UK makes a trade agreement, at this point, unlikely. Until the very last day of this negotiation and despite the current difficulties the EU will remain engaged, constructive, and respectful. In any case the UK has chosen to leave the single market and customs union on 1 January next year in little more than 5 months. This will bring inevitable changes. On our side we are getting ready”.
Mr Barnier has warned that failure to sign a deal by October would have serious economic consequences for the UK. Mr Barnier said : “If we do not reach an agreement on our future partnership there will be far more friction – for instance on trading goods in addition to new customs formalities there will be tariffs and quotas. This is the truth of Brexit and I will continue to tell the truth. If we want to avoid this additional friction, we must come to an agreement in October at the latest so that our new treaty can enter into force on 1 January next year. This means that we only have a few weeks left and that we should not waste time”.
David Frost, Michel Barnier’s counterpart, was considerably more upbeat about prospects he said : “Despite all the difficulties, on the basis of the work we have done in July, my assessment is that agreement can still be reached in September, and that we should continue to negotiate with this aim in mind. Accordingly, we look forward to welcoming the EU team back to London next week as planned for informal discussions and to the next negotiating Round beginning on 17 August”.
[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
[sibwp_form id=4]
