Britain, EU set Sunday deadline to clinch Brexit trade deal

By Gabriela Baczynska and Elizabeth Piper

 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomes British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Brussels, Belgium December 9, 2020. Olivier Hoslet/Pool via REUTERS

 

BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union's chief executive gave themselves until Sunday for last-ditch negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal after failing to narrow differences during a "frank discussion" over dinner in Brussels.

 

"Very large gaps remain between the two sides and it is still unclear whether these can be bridged," a senior source in the British prime minister's office said in a statement.

 

He said Johnson did not want to leave "any route to a possible deal untested", and so he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had agreed to further discussions over the next few days between their negotiating teams.

Von der Leyen echoed the British comments on the meeting in a separate statement.

 

The two sides agreed that a decision on whether a deal is possible before Britain finally leaves the EU's orbit on Jan. 1 would be taken by the end of the weekend.

 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived for crisis talks over dinner in Brussels with the European Union's chief executive on Wednesday, amid mounting concern that Britain is heading for a turbulent break-up with the bloc in three weeks.

 

Fears are running high of a chaotic no-deal finale to the five-year Brexit crisis.

 

The EU and Britain had cast Thursday's meeting as a chance to break an impasse in negotiations but both acknowledged there was a danger that a trade deal would elude them.

 

Britain formally left the bloc in January, but has since been in a transition period during which it remains in the EU single market and customs union, meaning that rules on trade, travel and business have stayed the same.

 

That ends on Dec. 31. If by then there is no agreement to protect around $1 trillion in annual trade from tariffs and quotas, businesses on both sides will suffer.

 

Earlier Johnson said Brussels wanted Britain to comply with new EU laws in the future or be automatically punished, and was insisting it give up sovereign control over its fishing waters.

 

"I don't believe that those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept," he told the British parliament, to cheers from lawmakers in his Conservative Party.

 

Johnson said "a good deal" could still be done if the EU scrapped its demands, but Britain would prosper with or without a trade deal, a phrase he repeated as he left for Brussels.

 

Failure to agree a deal would snarl borders, shock financial markets and sow chaos through supply chains in a world already grappling with the economic cost of COVID-19.

 

(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Kate Holton, Padraic Halpin, Elizabeth Piper and William James in London, John Chalmers, Gabriela Baczynska and Robin Emmott in Brussels, and Paul Carrel and Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and John Chalmers; Editing by Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-10

 

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Is this the 'oven ready', 'easiest deal in history', 'able to be negotiated over a cup of tea in an afternoon' trade deal these charlatans were selling to the British public all those years ago?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"Very large gaps remain between the two sides and it is still unclear whether these can be bridged," a senior source in the British prime minister's office said in a statement.

 

He said Johnson did not want to leave "any route to a possible deal untested", and so he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had agreed to further discussions over the next few days between their negotiating teams.

That confirms no deal the EU will not give in and Boris has been right all along but was obligated to try as stated.

 

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Kwasaki

5 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

That confirms no deal the EU will not give in and Boris has been right all along but was obligated to try as stated.

 

 

You have that the wrong way round.

The Eu's position was made clear before the referendum. Its you Brexiteers who couldnt make your mind up as to what Brexit actually meant. 

4 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

 

You have that the wrong way round.

The Eu's position was made clear before the referendum. Its you Brexiteers who couldnt make your mind up as to what Brexit actually meant. 

It meant getting out of the EU, the same as you want to get out of the UK, but how strange you slag off UK negotiations yet say nothing about your UK exit futility......But, amusing.....????

1 minute ago, transam said:

It meant getting out of the EU, the same as you want to get out of the UK, but how strange you slag off UK negotiations yet say nothing about your UK exit futility......But, amusing.....????

 

Getting out of the EU under what conditions?

The rest of your post is yet another deflection to a straw man and will be ignored. 

12 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You have that the wrong way round.

The Eu's position was made clear before the referendum. Its you Brexiteers who couldn't make your mind up as to what Brexit actually meant. 

I admire your persistence you see things differently to me, fair call.

 

As I have been saying will be no deal maybe something will be done later next year because the EU will be in trouble enough with others in the club.

 

The UK at last can get on with their freedom come what may.

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

I admire your persistence you see things differently to me, fair call.

 

As I have been saying will be no deal maybe something will be done later next year because the EU will be in trouble enough with others in the club.

 

The UK at last can get on with their freedom come what may.

 

I cannot see the UK going with no deal. Too much disruption and damage to the UK economy.

What I can see happening is the UK requesting an extension to the transition period.

This will cause enormous consternation among all groups concerned and there is a good chance one of the EU member states will refuse to grant it.

We have irritated many EU leaders.

1 minute ago, Rookiescot said:

 

I cannot see the UK going with no deal. Too much disruption and damage to the UK economy.

What I can see happening is the UK requesting an extension to the transition period.

This will cause enormous consternation among all groups concerned and there is a good chance one of the EU member states will refuse to grant it.

We have irritated many EU leaders.

Well will shall have to see, I don't share your optimism.

Just one correction which is aways a one sided prediction any damage to the UK economy will also be damage to the EU economy, another extension will not be asked for.

As I keep saying at long last the UK can get on with whatever it needs to do with it's freedom.

So Boris now faces these two choices......

 

1. Accept a deal, annoying the ERG, who will then remove him from office.

 

2. Accept a no deal, selling the whole of the UK down the river, in order to save his own skin.

 

I know which my money is on.

1 hour ago, Rookiescot said:

 

Getting out of the EU under what conditions?

The rest of your post is yet another deflection to a straw man and will be ignored. 

It's great you want to ignore my valid point, because you have no answer ....????

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

So Boris now faces these two choices......

 

1. Accept a deal, annoying the ERG, who will then remove him from office.

 

2. Accept a no deal, selling the whole of the UK down the river, in order to save his own skin.

 

I know which my money is on.

Yes, if you are from across the channel, funding the big UK exit cash hole......????

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

As I keep saying at long last the UK can get on with whatever it needs to do with it's freedom

Rolling over trade deals we already have.

Treating asylum seekers even worse than we do now

Withdrawing from the ECHR

Weakening labour laws and environmental laws

Reducing our commitments to foreign overseas aid

Destroying large sections of our agricultural industry

Destruction of our car industry

Creating a hostile environment for academics and health workers

Allowing tax avoidance for the wealthy to continue whilst reducing Universal Credit

 

What a wonderful future our new found freedoms promise

4 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Rolling over trade deals we already have.

Treating asylum seekers even worse than we do now

Withdrawing from the ECHR

Weakening labour laws and environmental laws

Reducing our commitments to foreign overseas aid

Destroying large sections of our agricultural industry

Destruction of our car industry

Creating a hostile environment for academics and health workers

Allowing tax avoidance for the wealthy to continue whilst reducing Universal Credit

 

What a wonderful future our new found freedoms promise

Still assuming/guessing I see......

Oh, did I read you want more UK money given away to foreign lands............

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by transam

3 minutes ago, transam said:

Oh, did I read you want more UK money given away to foreign lands.

No.....assuming or intentionally misreading? 

 

The % promised repeatedly by Johnson and Raab will suffice.....bearing in mind it is a % of GDP so the actual value should drop markedly over the next decade.

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

No.....assuming or intentionally misreading? 

 

The % promised repeatedly by Johnson and Raab will suffice.....bearing in mind it is a % of GDP so the actual value should drop markedly over the next decade.

Hey, you wrote it, but once again your reply is amusing.............????

32 minutes ago, transam said:

 because you have no answer .

Usually some use a Haha emoticon.

3 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Is this the 'oven ready', 'easiest deal in history', 'able to be negotiated over a cup of tea in an afternoon' trade deal these charlatans were selling to the British public all those years ago?

Sunday,  scallops will be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Opl

Just now, Opl said:

sunday,  scallops will be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Naaaah, Boris requested Cod & Chips, with HP sauce as a condiment, weeeeell, the bottle does have the Houses of Parliament on it......????????......

46 minutes ago, transam said:

It's great you want to ignore my valid point, because you have no answer ....????

You didnt make a point. I asked what conditions we were leaving on?

You however again try to deflect onto an argument over your own baseless assertion. 

Again. 

1 minute ago, transam said:

Naaaah, Boris requested Cod & Chips, with HP sauce as a condiment, weeeeell, the bottle does have the Houses of Parliament on it......????????......

 

Its also made in Holland.

 

????

2 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

 

I cannot see the UK going with no deal. Too much disruption and damage to the UK economy.

What I can see happening is the UK requesting an extension to the transition period.

That's not possible. Boris passed a law to ensure to there would be no extension to the transition period. It's now or never. 

 

Boris will never accept a level playing field as a precursor to the single market, as he has repeatedly rejected the notion of the EU encroaching on 'British sovereignty'. Interesting to note that the rules he doesn't wish to follow are; workers rights, environmental protection, corporate taxation and state aid for companies.

 

Most of these, in my opinion, are good rules to follow, and not a bad trade off for having tariff free access to the single largest trading block in the world. But with BoJo's red lines, no deal is all but guaranteed under these circumstances. Why not trade that red line for having your fish and eating it Johnson?

 

How many brexit threads have been popping up every day? I'm tired of it all quite frankly, as must the rest of the nation be. As a remain supporter, even I don't want to drag this out anymore.

 

It's the final countdown, we're leaving together....

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by 2530Ubon

1 minute ago, 2530Ubon said:

That's not possible. Boris passed a law to ensure to there would be no extension to the transition period. It's now or never. 

 

Boris will never accept a level playing field as a precursor to the single market, as he has repeatedly rejected the notion of the EU encroaching on 'British sovereignty'. Interesting to note that the rules he doesn't wish to follow are; workers rights, environmental protection, corporate taxation and state aid for companies.

 

Most of these, in my opinion, are good rules to follow, and not a bad trade off for having tariff free access to the single largest trading block in the world. But with BoJo's red lines, no deal is all but guaranteed under these circumstances. Why not trade that red line for having your fish and eating it Johnson?

 

How many brexit threads have we been popping up every day? I'm tired of it all quite frankly, as must the rest of the nation be. As a remain supporter, even I don't want to drag this out anymore.

 

It's the final countdown, we're leaving together....

 

He has an 80 seat majority (something the Brexiteers rejoice in) so can basically change whatever laws he wants.

3 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

 

Its also made in Holland.

 

????

Yes, it has been around.....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Sauce

19 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

Usually some use a Haha emoticon.

 

I dont think he has ever figured out the laugh emoticon actually counts as a "like" ????

Just now, Rookiescot said:

 

He has an 80 seat majority (something the Brexiteers rejoice in) so can basically change whatever laws he wants.

Yes, but they're just as gung ho and pompous as he is. Only 'the Mogg", Mr Jacob Rees himself outclasses Boris in that regard.

Dodgy pilot light on the oven again????

6 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

 

I dont think he has ever figured out the laugh emoticon actually counts as a "like" ????

 

Well there is no emoticon so far for :

 

You are right, but I don't want to say it.

 

I have no contra-arguments to express.
 

So, a Haha emoticon is a perfect alternative.

This is becoming the joke of century, they are going to talk 4 more days...!!!???

 

For what ? It's clear Boris wants a no deal, he wanted it from the day he turned pro Brexit, everything else is bulls..., he just managed to fool so many people so many times to think he wants anything otherwise...

 

But the problem with this situation is so many businesses and many processes didn't fully commit and prepare for a no deal Brexit - on both side of the channel...

 

So expect an absolute meyham on 1st Jan, all of course on his head and his government mismanagement , just to save face and pretend for so long that he is interested in any reasonable deal...! ????????

 

Ah, having full access to single market and being out of EU and have no commitment to any EU rules and not pay anything is just another bull as anything else, of course not possible and a pie in sky - cooked up by Boris and his cronies, why would EU accept that...! It would just be a signal to others to leave , never happens...

 

may as well just cut the cackle and announce No Deal today.

I've more chance of getting Thai citizenship this weekend than these lot agreeing a deal.

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Liverpoolfan