⁍ With time running out, Britain and the European Union were starting intensified daily talks on Thursday.


⁍ The two sides agreed on Wednesday to resume talks just 10 weeks before a status quo transition arrangement expires.


⁍ At stake is $900 billion of annual trade between the world’s largest trade bloc and its sixth biggest economy.


– With less than two months to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, the UK and the EU are gearing up for another round of Brexit negotiations. The two sides have agreed to “a genuine intensification of the negotiations with talks taking place daily, including at weekends,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells Reuters. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but the EU has given the UK until the end of the year to reach a Brexit deal or see the country crash out of the bloc in a no-deal departure. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, says he’s not worried about a no-deal Brexit at all. “Fish is now the thing to tackle. The other elements seem doable, more or less,” a diplomat tells Reuters. Britain wants control over its waters and annual quota negotiations while the EU wants continued access for its boats, with the French particularly concerned about losing their catch. After Johnson walked away from talks last week in frustration, EU officials have become increasingly frustrated with British tactics which in their mind simply use up valuable time in unnecessary theatrics. But the UK side have argued that they must stick up for their position, and honor Johnson’s pledge to “take back control.” Some in his team saw a small victory in the EU talking up British sovereignty to get the talks back on track. With time running out, businesses are being told to get ready for the end of the transition period, with or without a trade deal.



Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu/time-running-short-uk-and-eu-get-back-down-to-brexit-business-idUSKBN2771WN