November 29th British Foreign Secretary Raab said in an interview with the media that he thought that the future negotiations between Britain and Europe had entered the “last week or so” of “substantive negotiations” and stressed that the fishing issue was the “main point of debate” between the two sides.
Raab said that as the Brexit transition period is about to end by the end of this year, the negotiations between Britain and Europe may also end soon. He hoped that the EU would show pragmatism, goodwill and sincerity to promote agreement between the two sides on the “principles” issue of fisheries.
British Foreign Secretary Raab: Fisheries is a matter of principle. After the transition period, Britain will leave the EU. We will be an independent coastal country. We must be able to control our own waters.
On differences such as a level playing field and dispute settlement mechanisms, Raab said that the two sides “seemed to have made progress” on the basis of respect.
On the afternoon of the same day, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said that the future relationship negotiations between the EU and the United Kingdom were “an ongoing process”. Asked if he could reach an agreement, he said, “let’s try.”
A source from the British Prime Minister’s Office said in an interview on the 28th that the consequences of a no-deal Brexit were “underestimated”. If Britain and Europe fail to reach a trade agreement during the transition period, from January 1, 2021, the trade between the two sides may return to the framework of the World Trade Organization, start border inspection and impose tariffs, and tariffs on some British exports will be greatly increased. In addition, if there is no agreed Brexit, the UK’s GDP growth in 2021 will be pulled down by 2%, according to the UK Office of Budget Responsibility.
