Brussels: UK trade negotiator David Frost arrived at the UK Mission to the European Union in Brussels on Wednesday as the two sides continue with last-minute trade negotiations.
EU nations insisted that they would even consider negotiating beyond January 1 if necessary, acknowledging that an agreement that would safeguard hundreds of thousands of jobs on both sides should not fall apart over the small fisheries sector.
After a briefing by Barnier on Tuesday evening, an EU diplomat said that “progress has been made.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were ongoing, said the 27-nation bloc "remains ready to negotiate even beyond January 1."
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Another diplomat said that among other issues not fully closed are a few disputes over fair competition rules.
But a British official said that “significant gaps remain" and poured cold water on any idea to negotiate past January 1.
Nine months of talks have boiled down to just a few days to reach a compromise on how to carry on trading with as few obstacles and tariffs as possible after Britain's January 31 departure from the EU and a transition period that runs out at year's end.
If talks go on beyond that point, it's unclear under what conditions trade would take place in the interim.
The European Parliament, which must approve any deal, already said it would be impossible to give the go-ahead on such short notice.
AP news
