UK sees goodwill for Brexit trade deal, open to 'sensible' fishing compromise

By Guy Faulconbridge, Kate Holton

 

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Monday it was open to a “sensible” compromise on fishing and that there was goodwill on both sides to progress towards a Brexit trade deal as a new round of talks began in London.

 

The United Kingdom left the European Union in January but the sides are trying to clinch a deal that would govern nearly 1 trillion dollars in annual trade before informal membership - known as the transition period - ends on Dec. 31.

 

“There are still differences, there are still some obstacles to overcome,” British Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky. “But I think there is now some goodwill on both sides to progress things.”

 

After congratulating Joe Biden on his U.S. presidential election win, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday an EU trade deal was “there to be done” and that the broad outlines were clear.

 

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told Reuters he was “very happy to be back in London (for talks) and work continues.”

 

FISH

 

The talks have snagged over state aid rules and fisheries, a sector laden with symbolism for Brexit supporters in Britain.

 

RELATED COVERAGE

 

“On fisheries we’ve always been open to doing a sensible approach, looking potentially at agreements that might span a couple, three years for instance,” Eustice said.

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

 

Fishing alone contributed just 0.03% of British economic output in 2019, but many Brexit supporters see it as a symbol of the regained sovereignty they say leaving the EU should bring. Combined with fish and shellfish processing, the sector makes up 0.1% of Britain’s GDP.

 

The prospect of securing a longer term deal with the EU on sharing the fish catch is important for getting a compromise.

 

The upper house of the British parliament, the House of Lords, is due later on Monday to debate Johnson’s Internal Market Bill, which would allow Britain to undercut parts of the 2020 Brexit divorce deal and has alarmed the EU.

 

Eustice said the government would reinstate certain clauses if they were removed from the bill by the House of Lords.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-09

 

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Whilst there are still concerns over Johnson wanting to break international law and his own word, it does look like we are heading toward a sensible compromise by both sides on all the outstanding issues.

 

Something to be welcomed by both Brexiteers and Remainers alike.

 

Though no doubt the "No deal; WTO rules only" brigade will be bitterly disappointed.

With the rest of the world waiting to deal with UK and budgie smuggler Abbot there to hold UK hand while he explains how Oz has survived a no deal arrangement with EU and prospered......she'll be right mate 

So strange all of a sudden the Brits will compromise on fishing. Maybe they finally realized they need the EU more then the EU needs them. I mean its the symbol of Brexit (as mentioned in the article) and they are giving in.

 

Seems the walking away tactics and stamping their feet and saying it wont be an easy deal and now they are compromising on a symbol they held for important.

 

BJ saw their US ally go away and Biden is more pro EU. So the wind changed and the Brits are waving the white flag.

 

Personally I don't care much about fishing its not important in the grand scale the one market part is far more important. 

 

Lets hope there will be a deal its better to have a deal then no deal. Good that Brits finally understood they did not have the upper hand. 

13 minutes ago, robblok said:

So strange all of a sudden the Brits will compromise on fishing. Maybe they finally realized they need the EU more then the EU needs them. I mean its the symbol of Brexit (as mentioned in the article) and they are giving in.

 

Seems the walking away tactics and stamping their feet and saying it wont be an easy deal and now they are compromising on a symbol they held for important.

 

BJ saw their US ally go away and Biden is more pro EU. So the wind changed and the Brits are waving the white flag.

 

Personally I don't care much about fishing its not important in the grand scale the one market part is far more important. 

 

Lets hope there will be a deal its better to have a deal then no deal. Good that Brits finally understood they did not have the upper hand. 

 

It's attitudes like yours that cause so many problems.

 

Why not say "That's good the UK has compromised, maybe the EU can compromise a bit as well now and we can reach a deal"?

 

Instead you take the line "hahah I knew we were bigger and better than you. Now your are surrendering to the mighty EU hahahahah". It's such an immature and childish attitude, hardly conducive to a mature debate and a positive outcome, but sadly typical of TV's very own resident Brit hater ????.

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

It's attitudes like yours that cause so many problems.

 

Why not say "That's good the UK has compromised, maybe the EU can compromise a bit as well now and we can reach a deal"?

 

Instead you take the line "hahah I knew we were bigger and better than you. Now your are surrendering to the mighty EU hahahahah". It's such an immature and childish attitude, hardly conducive to a mature debate and a positive outcome, but sadly typical of TV's very own resident Brit hater ????.

No I am anti Brexit not a Brit hater.

 

But I have been saying all along the EU is the more powerful party. You and others have continuously said it was not true. So this is just a vindication and shows the Brits were bluffing. I mean they are now giving up on a thing that is really important and a symbol of Brexit.

 

Just shows that all that barking was just that barking and no bite.

 

Maybe its time for those people who kept saying it would be an easy deal and the Brits don't need the EU to eat some humble pie instead of attacking me. 

 

I could not care less about fisheries, the one market and its level playing field is far more important. I have said in quite a few posts that the Brits have every right for their fishing stuff and i don't begrudge them that. I always said that the one market and its fair playing field is more important to me and that the UK won't get access unless they bend. 

So the fishermen will be sold out just as remainers have been predicting since this entire shambles started. 

33 minutes ago, robblok said:

So strange all of a sudden the Brits will compromise on fishing. Maybe they finally realized they need the EU more then the EU needs them. I mean its the symbol of Brexit (as mentioned in the article) and they are giving in.

 

Seems the walking away tactics and stamping their feet and saying it wont be an easy deal and now they are compromising on a symbol they held for important.

 

BJ saw their US ally go away and Biden is more pro EU. So the wind changed and the Brits are waving the white flag.

 

Personally I don't care much about fishing its not important in the grand scale the one market part is far more important. 

 

Lets hope there will be a deal its better to have a deal then no deal. Good that Brits finally understood they did not have the upper hand. 

compromise was always on the cards that is part of negotiations likewise the EU will have to accept that they have to compromise on their ludicrous demands for same fishing access as when the UK was a member of the EU. The EU and the EU fishing nations are going to have to accept that same fishing access is not going to happen so they have a choice they compromise on their demands or they end up with nothing.

If your a French fisherman 75% is better than nothing not as good as 100% but still better than nothing

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

No I am anti Brexit not a Brit hater.

 

But I have been saying all along the EU is the more powerful party. You and others have continuously said it was not true. So this is just a vindication and shows the Brits were bluffing. I mean they are now giving up on a thing that is really important and a symbol of Brexit.

 

Just shows that all that barking was just that barking and no bite.

 

Maybe its time for those people who kept saying it would be an easy deal and the Brits don't need the EU to eat some humble pie instead of attacking me. 

 

I could not care less about fisheries, the one market and its level playing field is far more important. I have said in quite a few posts that the Brits have every right for their fishing stuff and i don't begrudge them that. I always said that the one market and its fair playing field is more important to me and that the UK won't get access unless they bend. 

 

Not at all. It makes sense for the UK to allow limited access to EU boats until we can rebuild our industry after the EU's CFP destroyed it. It's not giving up on anything, it's a sensible short term compromise to get a deal done. Now it's the EU's turn to compromise if they want to keep selling their goods to us at the same levels.  

 

If you want to paint that as "giving up" then go ahead if it makes you feel better. We all know how you love to slam anything UK/British related. If the UK didn't compromise you'd criticize us for being intransigent.  When we compromise we are giving up. So typical of your negative attitude towards the UK.

 

PS maybe EU/US relations are not as cozy as you wish to believe. Just because Biden likes to pretend he's Irish, doesn't mean him getting the White House fundamentally changes everything. 

 

Maybe UK/US relations won't collapse as you hope for as well? 

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1357620/brexit-news-us-uk-trade-deal-joe-biden-chris-coons-dominic-raab-vn

 

4 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

compromise was always on the cards that is part of negotiations likewise the EU will have to accept that they have to compromise on their ludicrous demands for same fishing access as when the UK was a member of the EU. The EU and the EU fishing nations are going to have to accept that same fishing access is not going to happen so they have a choice they compromise on their demands or they end up with nothing.

If your a French fisherman 75% is better than nothing not as good as 100% but still better than nothing

Those fishing deals don't interest me and I don't mind the Brits getting a good deal on that. I am more concerned about the one market and level playing field (as in no state support for companies that trade with EU as its unfair). 

 

Compromise was not always part of the deal the Brits were constantly saying (bluffing) about no deal. Now they finally admit they don't have the upper hand and are bending. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Not at all. It makes sense for the UK to allow limited access to EU boats until we can rebuild our industry after the EU's CFP destroyed it. It's not giving up on anything, it's a sensible short term compromise to get a deal done. Now it's the EU's turn to compromise if they want to keep selling their goods to us at the same levels.  

 

If you want to paint that as "giving up" then go ahead if it makes you feel better. We all know how you love to slam anything UK/British related. If the UK didn't compromise you'd criticize us for being intransigent.  When we compromise we are giving up. So typical of your negative attitude towards the UK.

 

PS maybe EU/US relations are not as cozy as you wish to believe. Just because Biden likes to pretend he's Irish, doesn't mean him getting the White House fundamentally changes everything. 

 

Maybe UK/US relations won't collapse as you hope for as well? 

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1357620/brexit-news-us-uk-trade-deal-joe-biden-chris-coons-dominic-raab-vn

 

What happened to "sovereignty" and "taking back control"?

The UK is capitulating. As remainers  predicted would happen.

The bluff and bluster of "we want no deal/clean break/WTO rules" failed to impress anyone it would seem.

8 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

So the fishermen will be sold out just as remainers have been predicting since this entire shambles started. 

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

 

Hardly selling out. You would prefer the UK refuses to negotiate? You bitter Remainers are hilarious. If we don't compromise we are wrong, if we try to reach a sensible, mutually beneficial compromise we are selling out. Life must be tough being such a sore loser who has such disdain for their own country to the point of wishing it to fail ????.

 

You should be getting behind the UK. Think of it like this. If we are successful the pound will strengthen and you can get another few hundred Baht per week from your pension. Maybe that will cheer you up and you can start seeing the bright side of life again ????.

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Not at all. It makes sense for the UK to allow limited access to EU boats until we can rebuild our industry after the EU's CFP destroyed it. It's not giving up on anything, it's a sensible short term compromise to get a deal done. Now it's the EU's turn to compromise if they want to keep selling their goods to us at the same levels.  

 

If you want to paint that as "giving up" then go ahead if it makes you feel better. We all know how you love to slam anything UK/British related. If the UK didn't compromise you'd criticize us for being intransigent.  When we compromise we are giving up. So typical of your negative attitude towards the UK.

 

PS maybe EU/US relations are not as cozy as you wish to believe. Just because Biden likes to pretend he's Irish, doesn't mean him getting the White House fundamentally changes everything. 

 

Maybe UK/US relations won't collapse as you hope for as well? 

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1357620/brexit-news-us-uk-trade-deal-joe-biden-chris-coons-dominic-raab-vn

 

The EU / US will be much better once Biden takes power and UK more isolated (trade wise). BJ is crying having lost Trump as an ally.

 

I don't know why your so hung up about fishing, already said give the Brits their due there. Its so minor for the EU (not for France and probably the Dutch suffer too if they lose but those are not big sectors).

 

My thing is them bending for the one market principle and the (no state support for companies trading with EU) and the standardization that is there that allows for easy trading. I have no problem with the EU fully conceding (even though they hold the cards) in the fishing dispute. But the EU should not give one inch on the one market ideals.

Easiest deal in history....we hold all the cards.....EU will be more damaged by no-deal than the UK.......and now Johnson is about to throw the fishermen under the trawler to get a deal.....pathetic.

4 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

What happened to "sovereignty" and "taking back control"?

The UK is capitulating. As remainers  predicted would happen.

The bluff and bluster of "we want no deal/clean break/WTO rules" failed to impress anyone it would seem.

 

If we choose to allow a limited number of EU boats to fish in our waters, in exchange for limited access to EU waters with quotas agreed on an annual basis, I fail to see how that is capitulation. Seems sensible to me.

 

But paint it as capitulation if it makes you feel that the UK is failing, just as you wish it to. 

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

 

Hardly selling out. You would prefer the UK refuses to negotiate? You bitter Remainers are hilarious. If we don't compromise we are wrong, if we try to reach a sensible, mutually beneficial compromise we are selling out. Life must be tough being such a sore loser who has such disdain for their own country to the point of wishing it to fail ????.

 

You should be getting behind the UK. Think of it like this. If we are successful the pound will strengthen and you can get another few hundred Baht per week from your pension. Maybe that will cheer you up and you can start seeing the bright side of life again ????.

You were the one screaming for no deal. Now you are all for compromise? 

Call it what it really is. Capitulation by Johnson and the Brexiteers ????

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Those fishing deals don't interest me and I don't mind the Brits getting a good deal on that. I am more concerned about the one market and level playing field (as in no state support for companies that trade with EU as its unfair). 

 

Compromise was not always part of the deal the Brits were constantly saying (bluffing) about no deal. Now they finally admit they don't have the upper hand and are bending. 

 

 

Normally in any  negotiations what is said outside is not the same as what is being said inside the  negotiations

Compromise was always part of the deal is just something you don't admit to

A few years ago Obama was caught spying on the EU

Now if you go into a set of negotiations and you know the other sides red lines and where they will Compromise and what they will accept then your onto a winner

example your buying a house from someone you know their asking price but you think you can get it cheaper but at the same time you don't want to offer more than the seller bottom line you would be over the moon if you knew in advance what the seller bottom line is

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

The EU / US will be much better once Biden takes power and UK more isolated (trade wise). BJ is crying having lost Trump as an ally.

A massive over simplification. If it makes financial sense to do a trade deal with the UK they will. Biden's misty nostalgia about his supposed Irish roots will not fundamentally change US foreign policy.

 

The EU and the US have their own, long running problems.

 

I wonder what Farage makes of all this backsliding. 

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

If we choose to allow a limited number of EU boats to fish in our waters, in exchange for limited access to EU waters with quotas agreed on an annual basis, I fail to see how that is capitulation. Seems sensible to me.

 

But paint it as capitulation if it makes you feel that the UK is failing, just as you wish it to. 

We shall fight them on the beaches, we shall fight them on the landing grounds.....but..oh!...wait...no.... they can fish in our waters.....that's okay. 

5 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You were the one screaming for no deal. Now you are all for compromise? 

Call it what it really is. Capitulation by Johnson and the Brexiteers ????

Do you have memory issues or are you being deliberately obtuse by creating these Straw Men time and time again? It's like showing your gran how to use an iPad 15 times and the next time you visit she's forgotten what an iPad is.

 

I have always said that I prefer a mutually beneficial FTA (as long as there is no level playing field and no ECJ jurisdiction). If we can't get an FTA without all those unrealistic EU strings attached then I am perfectly OK with No Deal.

 

I know you're getting on in years and I understand dementia, so please bookmark this post, I've explained it to you at least 5 times and won't be doing so again.????

6 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

We shall fight them on the beaches, we shall fight them on the landing grounds.....but..oh!...wait...no.... they can fish in our waters.....that's okay. 

Who mentioned fighting them on beaches? Not me. Another straw man from a bitter loser. Boring.

 

Maybe you should have read the whole article and not only the headline. I know it's a lot to take in, maybe you can manage 2 paragraphs?

 

“On fisheries we’ve always been open to doing a sensible approach, looking potentially at agreements that might span a couple, three years for instance,” Eustice said.

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

7 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Normally in any  negotiations what is said outside is not the same as what is being said inside the  negotiations

Compromise was always part of the deal is just something you don't admit to

A few years ago Obama was caught spying on the EU

Now if you go into a set of negotiations and you know the other sides red lines and where they will Compromise and what they will accept then your onto a winner

example your buying a house from someone you know their asking price but you think you can get it cheaper but at the same time you don't want to offer more than the seller bottom line you would be over the moon if you knew in advance what the seller bottom line is

You can dress it up anyway you like but the UK giving in on fishing shows that they are NOT the stronger party and have finally realized. Its just what I have been saying all along and what the die had Brexiteers have been denying. 

 

Of course I know how things work in negotiations. Those are standard only when you bluff too much and make it unbelievable like what the UK did you make a fool of yourself. And now it all comes out. 

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

A massive over simplification. If it makes financial sense to do a trade deal with the UK they will. Biden's misty nostalgia about his supposed Irish roots will not fundamentally change US foreign policy.

 

The EU and the US have their own, long running problems.

 

Of course there are problems between the EU and US, however Trump was more pro Brexit then Biden. Trump wanted to help BJ, Biden does not. So that fundamentally changed. Hard to deny that. That was what I was talking about.

55 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

It's such an immature and childish attitude

And that from a Boris supporter - hilarious. 

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

You can dress it up anyway you like but the UK giving in on fishing shows that they are NOT the stronger party and have finally realized. Its just what I have been saying all along and what the die had Brexiteers have been denying. 

 

Of course I know how things work in negotiations. Those are standard only when you bluff too much and make it unbelievable like what the UK did you make a fool of yourself. And now it all comes out. 

We are proposing mutual access, reviewed every 2 or 3 years. Please read the article. I've highlighted the important bits for you. Read the part below slowly, 2 or 3 times.

 

“On fisheries we’ve always been open to doing a sensible approach, looking potentially at agreements that might span a couple, three years for instance,” Eustice said.

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

Just now, JonnyF said:

Who mentioned fighting them on beaches? Not me. Another straw man from a bitter loser. Boring.

 

Maybe you should have read the whole article and not only the headline. I know it's a lot to take in, maybe you can manage 2 paragraphs?

 

“On fisheries we’ve always been open to doing a sensible approach, looking potentially at agreements that might span a couple, three years for instance,” Eustice said.

 

“The issue will become what are the sharing arrangements, how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters and that’s obviously a discussion that will happen annually, but there may also be a partnership agreement that sets out the ground rules as to how we will work on that.”

I am staggered at that sentence......how much mutual access do we allow in one another’s waters.....since when did we need mutual access? Apart from mid-points like the channel..our waters extend for 200 miles.......

 

Johnson is going to cave in...as the remainers always suspected he would....all bluff and bluster...no substance.

Now that Trump lost and a US trade deal is far far away the UK has to do something to do any meaningful trade at all.

Boris biggest problem right now is that somehow he has to make a deal with the EU and somehow he has to sell this deal like a great deal to his supporters. Now that is a challenge. 

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Do you have memory issues or are you being deliberately obtuse by creating these Straw Men time and time again? It's like showing your gran how to use an iPad 15 times and the next time you visit she's forgotten what an iPad is.

 

I have always said that I prefer a mutually beneficial FTA (as long as there is no level playing field and no ECJ jurisdiction). If we can't get an FTA without all those unrealistic EU strings attached then I am perfectly OK with No Deal.

 

I know you're getting on in years and I understand dementia, so please bookmark this post, I've explained it to you at least 5 times and won't be doing so again.????

Nothing wrong with my memory.

Or my sense of humor given I just burst out laughing at your post.

 

Walk away Boris. You can’t negotiate with people who are trying to punish you. Time for a clean break and take back that which is ours. No Deal please. 

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

You can dress it up anyway you like but the UK giving in on fishing shows that they are NOT the stronger party and have finally realized. Its just what I have been saying all along and what the die had Brexiteers have been denying. 

 

Of course I know how things work in negotiations. Those are standard only when you bluff too much and make it unbelievable like what the UK did you make a fool of yourself. And now it all comes out. 

Your on a different planet if you enter a set of  negotiations and you are unwilling to Compromise on any points you may as well not bother.

The EU fishing nations have been shouting for a number of years now NO compromise on their fishing demands and they have stated if they don't get 100% of what they want then no fish caught by British boats will be landing in France

The Scottish Fisherman have replied to to the above statement

Brexit fisheries row: Scottish fisherman warns 'not a single French boat will fish in UK'

BREXIT fishing disputes between the UK and France turned hostile when a Scottish fisherman vowed that "not a single French boat" would be allowed into British waters if the French followed through on their own threat.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1357568/brexit-news-fisheries-scottish-fisherman-french-boat-uk-eu-trade-talks-spt