Brexit: Deadline looms but still no trade deal between EU and UK

(Worthy News) – As the UK veers towards the January 1 deadline for agreeing on a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, the EU’s chief negotiator said London was to blame for the two parties’ failure to reach even a basic agreement so far, the Washington Examiner reported Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of jobs may be lost on both sides if no deal is agreed within the year-long transition period triggered when Britain officially left the EU trading bloc in January.

On his way to brief envoys from the 27 EU member states, Barnier told reporters Wednesday: “At this stage, there are still too many difficulties remaining on important topics.” In a later tweet, Barnier added: “Despite EU efforts to find solutions, very serious divergences remain.”

Negotiators have been battling to find common ground on a number of issues including fisheries rights, common regulatory standards, and fair competition: the EU is insisting on strict trade regulations to ensure Britain does not undercut EU businesses, the Washington Examiner reported.

In his own tweet Wednesday, Britain’s chief negotiator David Frost agreed that “wide divergences remain on some key issues.” He continued: “We continue to work to find solutions that fully respect U.K. sovereignty.″

Talks took place in Brussels this week and will move back to London in the coming days, the Washington Examiner said.

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