A senior government official told the Guardian that ministers remained deeply pessimistic about the hopes of adequate progress in this round of talks or those that will start in November. Only then can officials move on to talks about the future relationship. However, it is not clear how customs and trade arrangements can be pinned down when talks on those factors have yet to start. “There is a clear sequencing to these talks. “We have taken decisive steps forward on citizens’ rights, Northern Ireland and on a large number of the separation issues.

Source: The Guardian October 09, 2017 12:12 UTC