Dominic Raab: Brexit Trade Talks 'Unlikely' To Go Beyond Sunday

Talks between the UK and EU to reach a post-Brexit trade deal are "unlikely" to continue after Sunday, according to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

His comments come after a meeting between Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aimed at breaking the Brexit trade deadlock. Mrs von der Leyen said she had a "good conversation but it is difficult". Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, she also said "We are willing to grant access to the single market to our British friends - the largest single market in the world - but the conditions have to be fair and they have to be fair for our workers and our companies."

"This fine balance of fairness has not been achieved so far," she said, adding that negotiators were still underway and a decision would be taken on Sunday.

The European Union has set out the measures it would take in the event of a no-deal Brexit with the UK. The plans aim to ensure that UK and EU air and road connections still run after the UK stops following EU trading rules on 31 December.

It’s also been reported that they will allow the possibility of fishing access to each other's waters for up to a year, or until an agreement is reached.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We would never accept arrangements and access to UK fishing waters which are incompatible with our status as an independent coastal state."

On Thursday the EU published a statement outlining some of the plans in place if a deal cannot be agreed, and it says some sectors would affected more than others.

Provision for air travel, allowing aviation safety certificates, connectivity for road freight and passenger transport for 6 months, along with reciprocal fishing access are included in the statement.

After 31st December

Regardless of whether a deal is agreed, many things are set to change.

It has been reported that UK citizens could be barred from from travelling into the EU as of 1st January if travel rules associated with being part of the EU expire and Covid restrictions block entry.

If a deal is not agreed the price of goods could also increase as a result of the EU and Uk imposing taxes on goods that cross the borders, which in current circumstances could cripple many businesses.

A Downing Street spokesman said that the government had put "extensive preparations" in place for the end of the transition period to secure supply chains.