Business, Freight News

No progress in Brexit talks

[ May 15, 2020   //   Chris ]

The third round of Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU made little progress in mid-May after they restarted via video link, with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress.
EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and UK chief negotiator David Frost admitted that there had been little progress on reaching agreement on the remaining outstanding differences, the former adding that he was “not optimistic” on reaching a final agreement.
The UK is due to formally withdraw from the EU on 31 January, although opposition parties have called on the government to extend the transition period beyond that date.
One of the key issues are whether tariffs and quotas could be eliminated from UK/EU trade and whether the UK would be bound by EU employment, environmental and other legislation.
Financial services, fishing and the rights of UK citizens in the EU are among the other sticking-points.
A fourth round of talks is scheduled to begin on 1 June and both sides are due to decide by the end of that month whether to extend the current deadline, although the UK has said it does not wish to extend the process.

Tags: Brexit