FINAL PUSH
Trade talks extended in bid to avoid no-deal disaster
BORIS Johnson was last night urged to make a final bid for an EU trade pact as Britain edged closer to leaving without a deal.
The Prime Minister’s deadline for striking an agreement passed with no results yesterday, and he warned a crippling no-deal was “most likely”.
He ordered talks to continue as pro-EU group Best for Britain said: “The UK is now drinking in the last chance saloon. Negotiators must give these talks one more push.”
We’re going to continue to try with all our hearts and be as creative as we possibly can
BORIS JOHNSON AFTER EXTENDING TALKS ON EU TRADE DEAL
AS Britain last night teetered on the edge of a damaging no-deal Brexit, Boris Johnson faced demands to pull out all the stops to avoid crashing out of Europe.
After the PM’s deadline for reaching an agreement with Brussels passed with no breakthrough, he and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen ordered officials to keep trying to thrash out a pact.
Negotiators Lord Frost and Michel Barnier will continue talks today.
But there was fury among business leaders that Mr Johnson has still not delivered his promised trade deal with the EU, 17 days before the transition period ends on December 31 – amid uncertainty about future planning.
The PM warned a no-deal Brexit was now the “most likely” outcome but insisted officials will go the “extra mile” to try to thrash out a pact.
Best for Britain campaign group chief Naomi Smith said: “While it’s good news talks will continue, the UK is now drinking in the last chance saloon. Negotiators must now give these talks one more push. The country desperately needs them to succeed.” A Best for Britain poll of 1,703 people found 66% supported leaving the transition with a deal. Just 15% preferred a no-deal.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves added: “Everybody would have liked to have seen a deal by now, but the very worst outcome would be to crash out with no-deal.
“So it is welcome the talks continue and I hope that they will swiftly conclude. But I also hope, on behalf of British businesses, workers, and our security, that the Government delivers the promise it made to the British people, and comes back with a deal.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said:
“Whilst it’s essential the UK and EU continue negotiations to avoid a no-deal, it is an outrage for Boris Johnson to leave British business in the lurch, with only a handful of days to plan for new trading arrangements.
“The fact that businesses, already on their knees from the Covid crisis, still have no idea how they will trade with the EU in two and half weeks is already costing jobs and is frankly shocking.”
Business leaders shared that outrage. British Chambers of Commerce director-general Adam Marshall said: “This is a frustrating time for business as they anxiously wait for decisions about the terms of trade with the EU. If a few more hours or days makes the difference, keep going… and get an agreement that delivers clarity and certainty to businesses and trade on both sides.”
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson added:
Without a deal the public will face over £3billion in food tariffs... with higher prices
“The 11th hour has passed and every passing moment of uncertainty makes it harder for businesses to prepare effectively for January 1.
“Without a deal, the British public will face over £3billion in food tariffs and retailers would have no choice but to pass on some of these costs to their customers who would see higher prices filter through during 2021.
“Moreover, new checks and red tape that will apply from January 1 will create an additional burden for retailers and their customers.”
Supermarkets were said to be stockpiling food and other goods amid mounting fears of a no-deal and claims there could be a three-month shortage of imported vegetables.
Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen spoke by phone for 20 minutes from noon yesterday and a source said they agreed to “keep going for as long as they still think a deal is possible”. The pair said in a joint statement: “Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days and, despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over, we think it is responsible at this point to go the extra mile.”
Ms von der Leyen described the call as “constructive and useful”.
The sticking points remain over fishing rights and the “level playing field” which Brussels wants to prevent “unfair” competition from the UK.
Mr Johnson said: “We’re going to continue to try and we’re going to try with all our hearts and be as creative as we possibly can. But what we can’t do is compromise on that fundamental nature of what Brexit is all about which is us being able to control our laws, control our fisheries. It’s simple.
“I think our friends get it, and we remain willing to talk and will continue to do so.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “Every opportunity to reach a deal is highly welcome.”
Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney added: “I think both sides do want a deal. My view is that a deal can be done, but it really needs to be done within the next few days.”
If no trade agreement is struck with the EU, imports and exports will switch to World Trade Organisation terms involving quotas and tariffs.
Mr Johnson added: “The most likely thing now is of course that we have to get ready for WTO terms, Australia terms, and don’t forget everybody, we made huge preparations for this.”
But despite the obvious fears of business chiefs, he insisted the UK will do “very, very well” either way.
HELEN DICKINSON BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM CHIEF ON COSTS FEARS