November 30th – Comprehensive report: On the 29th local time, British Foreign Secretary Raab said that the trade negotiations between Britain and the EU are likely to enter a “very important last week”, and if the EU shows “pragmatism”, an agreement is still possible.
Raab said that the negotiations now depend on solving a series of issues that are “quite limited”, including fishing rights.
He said “This is a very important week, the last week that really matters”, adding that reaching an agreement requires the EU to accept a “principline” that the United Kingdom demands “control” of its own fisheries after the Brexit transition period is over.
According to reports, Raab hinted earlier that Britain and Europe had made some progress in the “level playing field” regulations, and said that the fishing rights issue remained the most difficult issue to solve.
On the way to the consultation, Barnier, EU chief negotiator, said that he was “continuously working, even on Sunday”.
At present, Britain and the European Union are trying to reach a trade agreement to avoid obstacles to their trade at the end of December. However, the Brexit transition period will end on December 31, and the UK has previously said it will not be extended. Since the trade agreement is finalized, it still needs to be submitted to the parliaments of both sides for approval, and there is not much time to delay.
It is said that although fishing accounts for only 0.1% of the British economy, the issue of fishing rights has become one of the main differences between the two sides. Britain has so far rejected the EU proposal and insisted that Britain, as an independent country, must take full control of its own maritime areas.
