EU chief unsure of post- Brexit trade

BRUSSELS: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers yesterday that despite the “genuine progress” on several important issues in post- Brexit trade talks with London, she “cannot tell you today if there will in the end there be a deal”.

After months of deadlock, the head of the EU’S executive branch told European Parliament that negotiators had made great strides on establishing the terms of police and judicial co- operation as well as for social security arrangements.

“Also on goods, services and transport we now have the outline of a possible final text,” she said.

“There are still three issues that can make the difference between a deal and no- deal,” she said: the extent of British compliance with EU social and environmental standards, how to govern disputes and fisheries.