(Bloomberg) -- British and European Union negotiators have made little progress this week as negotiations over the future trade deal between the two sides remain stuck.
In the final round of talks before a key end of June deadline, officials are still far apart on crucial issues and the tense atmosphere hasn’t improved significantly, according to people familiar with the matter.
The negotiating round is due to conclude formally on Friday. Failure to narrow the gap between the U.K. and EU positions will add to pressure for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene directly to break the deadlock when they hold talks later this month.
EU Looks to Johnson to Stop No-Deal Brexit With Talks Stuck
The U.K. and EU have clashed over fishing rights and the question of fair competition rules. Johnson has said he will not accept Brussels’ condition of signing up to the bloc’s regulations after Brexit, which the EU insists is a red line for any deal.
Earlier in the week, the U.K. dismissed reports that Johnson was ready to compromise on giving EU fleets access to British fishing waters.
There are just four weeks left until a crucial June 30 deadline by when the U.K. needs to decide if it is going to apply to extend the negotiations beyond the end of this year.
Johnson has so far ruled out seeking additional time and has warned that if no significant progress is made by the end of June, he may walk away from the negotiating table and prepare instead to leave the EU single market and customs union without a new trade agreement in place. That would see costly tariffs and other barriers imposed on goods traded between the two sides.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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