"Serious differences" remain in trade talks between the European Union and Britain
"Serious differences" remain in trade talks between the European Union and Britain, European Union chief negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier said on Wednesday.
"Serious differences" remain in trade talks between the European Union and Britain
"Serious differences" remain in trade talks between the European Union and Britain, European Union chief negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier said on Wednesday.
At the same time, he indicated that the EU would rather accept complications in trade that could occur after eight weeks than give in to its key requirements.
Britain left the EU at the end of January. There has been an 11-month transition period since then. During it, both parties must agree on the terms of future business relations.
Less than two months remain until the end of the transitional period, but neither party wants to back down on three points. These are fisheries, competition conditions and the dispute settlement system.
"Despite the EU's efforts to find a solution, deep differences remain in fisheries, competition and dispute resolution," Barnier said on Twitter, adding that "Brussels is ready for all possible scenarios."
British Brexit negotiator David Frost also wrote on Twitter that "deep differences remain on some basic issues." He added that "they continue to work to find a solution that fully respects British sovereignty".