A seventh round of talks between the EU and UK over post-Brexit trade relations resumed on Tuesday evening over dinner between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and UK counterpart David Frost. London has, however, thus far refused to tell Brussels what the UK’s new subsidy regime will look like while Brussels wants the UK to sign up to a “shared philosophy” on future subsidy policy. Diplomats say an agreement on fisheries may be possible but because of its political sensitivity this will be a last-minute deal. Access by EU boats to UK waters might yet be agreed subject to reduced quotas and in exchange for continued tariff-free access to EU markets by UK fishermen. But Britain still reportedly wants standalone agreements on aviation, fish and civil-nuclear co-operation.

Source: The Irish Times August 18, 2020 23:06 UTC