Post-Brexit trade deal: EU with optimism, as Boris Johnson gave rise to hopes for trade negotiations

DUBLIN: The European Union (EU) is hoping to reach an agreement with Britain on post-Brexit trade even as the transition period draws to a close. A phone call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given rise to hopes for post-Brexit trade negotiations.

The legal deadline for leaving the UK Customs Union and the Single Market is 31 December. Talks between the two sides last week ended in a stalemate over three issues, including fisheries. This Sunday was set as the deadline for reaching a decision on the future of trade talks. The British phone call to the EU arrived on the same day. Both sides agreed that talks could continue until the end of the deadline.

A statement issued by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday on post-Brexit trade highlights the union’s optimism.

By using all its tactics, Britain is secretly trying to gain maximum concessions by somehow putting pressure on the entire EU. The EU also hopes that Britain will finally reach a deal.

The phone call…

The situation was ready for further discussion after Boris Johnson called Ursula von der Leyen yesterday. Both leaders believe it is “responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile”. His statement added that the post-Brexit trade talks would continue. A joint statement said Ms. von der Leyen and Boris Johnson had agreed to continue talks.

“I had a constructive and useful phone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson,” von der Leyen said. She said they were discussing major complex challenges that delayed an agreement. She added that the disputed fishing rights would also link the so-called level playing field ‘ratchet’, to future EU standards.

“Our negotiation teams have been working day and night over the recent days,” she said. Although there is no time limit again, the statement said that both sides believe it is necessary to continue the talks at this time. Ms. Von der Leyen said talks to reach an agreement would continue in Brussels.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson said he would reach a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU, but said the two sides were far apart. Mr. Johnson also made it clear that the UK would not stay away from the talks. “Where there is life, there is hope,” he added.

He said the UK was prepared to ensure that the terms, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) tariffs, which come into force on January 1, do not lead to a breakdown in negotiations. “The most likely thing now is, of course, that we have to get ready for WTO terms, Australia terms,” he said. He also confirmed that an attempt to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron had been rejected.

Foreign Affairs Minister and Taoiseach said everything would be fine

At the same time, the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the joint statement was a good sign. “I think both sides do want a deal and they want a deal now to provide certainty for so many people who have been waiting for it for years,” he said. The willingness to continue the talks is an indication that they are working to find a way forward together, he added.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it would be an “appalling failure of statecraft” if a trade deal is not reached. The UK officially left from the European Union on January 31 this year. As a result, MEPs left from the European Parliament and the UK no longer having an EU Commissioner. More than 95% of the issues were agreed and resolved in the trade negotiations between London and Brussels. Taoiseach added that it now needs to become a legal text.

Irish leaders are pushing for a deal, with the conviction that Ireland will fall victim to a no-deal deal.