Britain and EU to try to rescue post-Brexit trade talks

[webfact]

Britain and EU to try to rescue post-Brexit trade talks

By Paul Sandle and Jan Strupczewski

 

FILE PHOTO: An hybrid flag depicting the EU and the British flags is seen during a debate on the last EU summit and Brexit at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

 

LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain and the European Union will on Monday attempt to breathe life into post-Brexit trade talks that appeared all but dead last week, with each side telling the other it needed to fundamentally change course.

 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday there was no point in continuing talks and it was time to prepare for a 'no-deal' exit when transitional arrangements end on Dec. 31.

 

But Michael Gove, one of his senior ministers, struck a more conciliatory tone on Sunday, saying the door was still ajar to a deal if the bloc was willing to compromise.

 

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had been due in London for talks with his British counterpart David Frost this week. Instead, they will now speak by telephone on Monday to discuss the structure of future talks, Barnier's spokesman said.

 

Negotiations broke down on Thursday when the European Union said Britain needed to give ground.

 

Issues still to be resolved include fair competition rules, dispute resolution and fisheries.

 

Gove said on Sunday that the bloc had squandered some of the progress that had been made because it had not been willing to intensify talks or produce detailed legal texts.

 

"We hope that the EU will change their position; we're certainly not saying if they do change their position that we can't talk to them," he said.

 

Asked by Sky News if Barnier should come to London, Gove said the ball was "in his court".

 

EU diplomats and officials cast Johnson's move as little more than rhetoric, portraying it as a frantic bid to secure concessions before a last-minute deal was done, and European leaders have asked Barnier to continue talks.

 

"A DEAL, BUT NOT AT ANY PRICE"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said compromises on both sides would be needed. French President Emmanuel Macron said Britain needed a Brexit deal more than the 27-nation EU, which remained united.

 

"We are ready for a deal, but not at any price," Macron said.

 

A "no deal" finale to the United Kingdom's five-year Brexit crisis would disrupt the operations of manufacturers, retailers, farmers and nearly every other sector - just as the economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic worsens.

 

"It is not my preferred destination," Gove said in an opinion piece in the Sunday Times.

 

"But if the choice is between arrangements that tie our hands indefinitely, or where we can shape our own future, then that's no choice at all. And leaving on Australian terms is an outcome for which we are increasingly well prepared."

 

Critics say that an "Australian-style" deal is simply code for no deal at all with Britain's largest export market.

 

Britain is launching a campaign this week urging businesses to step up preparations for a no-deal exit. In a statement accompanying the launch, Gove says: "Make no mistake, there are changes coming in just 75 days and time is running out for businesses to act."

 

More than 70 British business groups representing over 7 million workers on Sunday urged politicians to get back to the negotiating table next week and strike a deal.

 

"With compromise and tenacity, a deal can be done. Businesses call on leaders on both sides to find a route through," they said.

 

(Reporting by Paul Sandle and Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-19

 

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[melvinmelvin]

 

why am I not surprised

 

mebbee time for a wager now

 

will the deal/withdrawal period be pushed beyond the fireworks end of December or not?

 

 

[melvinmelvin]

 

why am I not suprised

 

mebbee time for a wager

 

will the deal/withdrawal period be extended beyond the fireworks end of December?

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

As I predicted. The talks continue.  Another imaginary deadline Boris backpedals on. 

[Susco]

4 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

will the deal/withdrawal period be extended beyond the fireworks end of December?

 

Brexit talks are coronation street and eastenders in real life. Series that started 40 years ago and never ended.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Boris needs a deal more than anybody else. The only question is if he will get anything which he can sell as a success. 

It's like a guy who tells everybody that he can get all the pretty girls. And then later he has to explain how he ended up with the one he got.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, Susco said:

Brexit talks are coronation street and eastenders in real life. Series that started 40 years ago and never ended.

Unfortunately for millions of people it doesn't end as soon as they switch off the TV.

[transam]

9 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

As I predicted. The talks continue.  Another imaginary deadline Boris backpedals on. 

Link please....????

[welovesundaysatspace]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

Link please....????

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188067-britain-and-eu-to-try-to-rescue-post-brexit-trade-talks/

 

[transam]

3 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188067-britain-and-eu-to-try-to-rescue-post-brexit-trade-talks/

 

No, your prediction link .........................????

[steve187]

31 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

why am I not surprised

 

mebbee time for a wager now

 

will the deal/withdrawal period be pushed beyond the fireworks end of December or not?

 

 

N O

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 hour ago, transam said:

No, your prediction link .........................????

Search my post history. I predicted end of last week that Boris would backpedal on his deadline. He’s a clown, and clowns are bad at bluffing. 

[transam]

14 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Search my post history. I predicted end of last week that Boris would backpedal on his deadline. He’s a clown, and clowns are bad at bluffing. 

I wouldn't know about clown bluffing....????

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

As I predicted. The talks continue.  Another imaginary deadline Boris backpedals on. 

 

Like Macron said, a deal but not at any price. Same for the UK as for the EU.

 

Either both change or it will be no deal. 

 

Neither want that.

[Baerboxer]

30 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Search my post history. I predicted end of last week that Boris would backpedal on his deadline. He’s a clown, and clowns are bad at bluffing. 

 

Whereas you believe Macron to be a serious heavy weight political genius no doubt.

 

A french banker bluffed is way into the President's job and lords it up over France with his opulence and now appoints himself godfather of Lebanon. 

 

Sorry, but repeatedly saying "Non, non, non," isn't negotiating. More like trait of French Presidents who just want their own way like a spoilt child.

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Boris needs a deal more than anybody else. The only question is if he will get anything which he can sell as a success. 

It's like a guy who tells everybody that he can get all the pretty girls. And then later he has to explain how he ended up with the one he got.

 

er, Mrs Merkel, despite being in her twilight years and almost retired might disagree with you. She knows how important a deal is to the block but especially Germany. She also wants a deal she can sell as her success.

 

But le petit general daren't sell the French fishermen out. And any compromise on their quotas, no matter how scientifically sensible, will be seen as a sell out. Unless the French government reimburse them - which will make Macron look weak and politically vulnerable to pressure. He's got no option but to keep saying non, non, non. But how long with the Germans tolerate him?

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

why am I not suprised

 

mebbee time for a wager

 

will the deal/withdrawal period be extended beyond the fireworks end of December?

 

It's highly unlikely there will be another extension. What for? Another 10 Billion quid to listen to the EU make impossible demands and refuse to compromise for another 12 months?

 

No, 4 1/2 years of this nonsense is plenty thanks. Trust has been lost. Asking the UK to agree to the WA before discussing the FTA and then making impossible demands for an FTA while threatening to cut NI off from the UK? Disgraceful. It's time to leave this disparate clan of conmen and shysters behind. 

[welovesundaysatspace]

42 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Whereas you believe Macron to be a serious heavy weight political genius no doubt.

Where did I comment on Macron? 
 

42 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A french banker bluffed is way into the President's job and lords it up over France with his opulence and now appoints himself godfather of Lebanon. 

Not sure commenting on a PMs past job is a good idea when your own one is a failed journalist who was caught making up stuff in his columns. 

 

42 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Sorry, but repeatedly saying "Non, non, non," isn't negotiating.

A perfectly fine part of a negotiation. Feel free to say “no, no, no” in return. 

[dunroaming]

I think that Boris will be begging for something, anything that will look like a concession from the EU, no matter how hollow it is.  He will then claim a victory which we all know will be just more bull.

 

Still that is fine if we end up with a workable trade deal.  Who cares if Boris claims it as a success, everyone knows it is all more of the same from him.

[mfd101]

Here's a quote from The Times as reported in today's Australian newspaper:

"Britain is about to go “no deal” on one of its most cherished industries. No matter whether the government strikes a thin Brexit trade agreement, which is now the best that can be hoped for, or fails to secure anything, as looks more likely than ever, the die is cast for the City. There is nothing in the negotiations for a sector that accounts for 6.8 per cent of GDP, employs a million people across Britain (two-thirds outside London) and pays £75bn ($136bn) a year in taxes.

"Brussels has walked over us and, frankly, the government no longer cares. What matters is fishing, accounting for 0.1 per cent of GDP and employing 24,000 people, and state aid, to deliver a semblance of sovereignty."

 

As an Australian it's a bit bemusing to watch the UK 'government' use the word 'Australia' as propaganda to pretend that they're about to get something better than WTO rules. Presumably the average Brit knows that Oz is filthy rich (even after the pandemic) so anything Oz has by way of dealings with the EU must be good ...

 

[Loiner]

2 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

 He’s a clown, and clowns are bad at bluffing. 

You can call Boris a clown, or a failed journalist, or a buffoon, or a liar, or anything else you want to. He's still beating your Barnier and Macron. That must hurt a bit doesn't it, beating your best?

He's not bluffing either, is that how your pair are losing the negotiations and being sent home? 

[puipuitom]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Like Macron said, a deal but not at any price. Same for the UK as for the EU.

 

Either both change or it will be no deal. 

 

Neither want that.

Only... the 450 mln EU block can afford it a lot easier as the tiny British Isles with 67 mln

[vogie]

1 hour ago, Victornoir said:

I believe that you did not understand anything about this confrontation which is not surprising in view of all of your provocative messages.

Macron wants and is active behind the scenes to obtain a divorce without agreement or minimum brino. Go to specialized French forums for confirmation in terms much less civil than mine.

The nations of the south, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece... are all with him. This is why Merkel cannot impose even a fair deal While the German industrial lobbies are pushing for a transaction.

After the Irish border, fishing is a perfect motive for blocking any advance and blaming the relative fishermen's loss on British intransigence. This is why Macron and his friend Barnier will not give up.

I am beginning to change my opinion of the Frenchies right to fish our waters, a French lady on the BBC news has just said that the fish are born in French waters and then swim into British waters, which really makes a strong case for Macron, I feel such a fool not realising this simple fact in the first plaice (misspelling intended). ????????????

[transam]

5 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

Only... the 450 mln EU block can afford it a lot easier as the tiny British Isles with 67 mln

We don't care, anyhooo, most of your lot are milking you.....????

[puipuitom]

14 minutes ago, Loiner said:

You can call Boris a clown, or a failed journalist, or a buffoon, or a liar, or anything else you want to. He's still beating your Barnier and Macron. That must hurt a bit doesn't it, beating your best?

He's not bluffing either, is that how your pair are losing the negotiations and being sent home? 

Boris the Liar beating Barnier and Macron ? How ? The EU with 450 mln will continue, but the tiny British isles with 67 mln ?

See the economic situation: GDP development 2nd quarter 2020. ONLY Spain (-22,1 %) performed worse as the UK ( -20,4%) .

[transam]

3 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

Boris the Liar beating Barnier and Macron ? How ? The EU with 450 mln will continue, but the tiny British isles with 67 mln ?

See the economic situation: GDP development 2nd quarter 2020. ONLY Spain (-22,1 %) performed worse as the UK ( -20,4%) .

We don't care, only you care, you keep telling us....????

[puipuitom]

12 minutes ago, vogie said:

I am beginning to change my opinion of the Frenchies right to fish our waters, a French lady on the BBC news has just said that the fish are born in French waters and then swim into British waters, which really makes a strong case for Macron, I feel such a fool not realising this simple fact in the first plaice (misspelling intended). ????????????

The British sold theri fishing quota already a 30 years ago. Boris wants to cancel these sales just as he did with the Withdrawal Act. A contract with the British is not even worth the ink it is signed with.

[Loiner]

1 minute ago, puipuitom said:

Boris the Liar beating Barnier and Macron ? How ? The EU with 450 mln will continue, but the tiny British isles with 67 mln ?

See the economic situation: GDP development 2nd quarter 2020. ONLT Spain performed worse as the UK.

 

Did you think we were negotiating about who has the biggest GDP???

 

We were negotiating about what type of deal we leave the transition period with. As far of Macron and Barnier's demands for our fishing waters goes, we have won.

Boris & Frost 1 - 0 Macron & Barnier

 

Boris has well outperformed Macron and the eight EU coastal states.

[puipuitom]

Just now, transam said:

We don't care, only you care, you keep telling us....????

Correct. I do not like my British friends, some since 1965, will fall in poverty.

I donot like a shock in the EU trade with the UK. Bad for all.

That's why I care. And many inside the EU

Clearly some British .. do not give a damn.

[puipuitom]

12 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Did you think we were negotiating about who has the biggest GDP???

 

We were negotiating about what type of deal we leave the transition period with. As far of Macron and Barnier's demands for our fishing waters goes, we have won.

Boris & Frost 1 - 0 Macron & Barnier

 

Boris has well outperformed Macron and the eight EU coastal states.

Why you British are always coming with the "fishing", a 0,12 % of the British earnings ?

I would care about the "Make"industry and of all: the financial service industry of the London City, worth a LOT more.