Britain’s foreign minister mentioned Thursday that negotiations on a trade deal with the European Union will attain a “moment of finality” this weekend, with each sides assessing probabilities of an agreement as slim.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab mentioned the Sunday deadline set by Britain and the EU for a choice was final – although he added “you can never say never entirely.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a 3-hour dinner meeting Wednesday in hope of unblocking stalled talks, but came away saying the gaps in between them had been substantial.
“We understand each other’s positions. They remain far apart,” von der Leyen mentioned.
They told their negotiators to hold speaking, but set Sunday as choice day.
Without a deal, the bloc and Britain face a tumultuous no-deal split at the finish of the month, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in losses.
Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but remains in its financial structures till the finish of the year. That suggests a severe financial rupture on Jan. 1 that could be chaotic if there is no trade agreement.