UK & EU Agree Post-Brexit Trade Deal

[jfman]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Which aspects are you querying? Everything has been covered in recent links in this thread except for perhaps the US election where Biden's lead over Trump is increasing.

Indeed, these things are well documented. Maybe Trump could get 11 doctors to give various experimental treatments to his election campaign to bring it back to life.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Of the Big 3:
- China is ruled out - no negotiations scheduled
- USA is ruled out due to Internal Market Bill and Boris's links to soon-to-be-ex-President Trump

Therefore, the EU is the only show left in town. No wonder BoJo sent David Frost back to the negotiating table.

Or did the EU blink? The snide spin you've put onto your remark is gratuitous.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Or did the EU blink? The snide spin you've put onto your remark is gratuitous.

Did they?

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by jfman

Did they?

What do you think? I think that they have appeared to blink with their fingers crossed behind their back.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Or did the EU blink? The snide spin you've put onto your remark is gratuitous.

There's no spin. The comments Barnier made recently which got Frost back to the table were pretty much a repeat of those he made previously.*

The previous cessation of negotiations were more about an unpopular BoJo trying to raise his popularity in the party than any hard-edged negotiating strategy. Judging by your post, his tactics may have worked.

* See below:

Mr Johnson had criticised a statement adopted by EU leaders at a summit last week that called on the UK “to make the necessary moves to make an agreement possible”, saying there was no point continuing talks if all concessions needed to come from the British side.

EU diplomats noted Mr Barnier’s comments on Wednesday were a close reflection of those he made in last week’s EU summit press conference, as well as of remarks made at that time by other EU leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel.

But they proved enough to end the impasse, which persisted over the early part of this week despite daily calls between Lord Frost and Mr Barnier.

https://www.ft.com/content/27d46f3b-...6-b007c08a441d

Great, so everyone thinks things are unfolding according to their preferred narrative.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

Great, so everyone thinks things are unfolding according to their preferred narrative.

That's normally the way, it's just usually slightly less nuanced on this topic.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

That's normally the way, it's just usually slightly less nuanced on this topic.

At least everyone’s happy. It’s peace in our time, or the closest we’re going to get to it in this thread.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

At least everyone’s happy. It’s peace in our time, or the closest we’re going to get to it in this thread.

Peace in our time on CF until Indy Ref II.

Originally Posted by Chris

At least everyone’s happy. It’s peace in our time, or the closest we’re going to get to it in this thread.

Except Neville had a piece of paper in his hand, not a (u)kipper...

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Peace in our time on CF until Indy Ref II.

"Never, never, never!".

I want to be pleasantly surprised by the EU, but I rather think their concessionary signals are feint. Likewise, the Guvmin's re-entry to the talks is most likely a spoil to prevent outcry that the UK failed to grasp an olive branch.

It still seems to me that these will be back-to-back discussions rather than face-to-face.

Originally Posted by Hugh

Except Neville had a piece of paper in his hand, not a (u)kipper...

I live to feed you lines.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

"Never, never, never!".

I want to be pleasantly surprised by the EU, but I rather think their concessionary signals are feint. Likewise, the Guvmin's re-entry to the talks is most likely a spoil to prevent outcry that the UK failed to grasp an olive branch.

It still seems to me that these will be back-to-back discussions rather than face-to-face.

No deal is not really an option; the UK Government is not prepared for it. Hence some kind of agreement will have to be reached even if it's just kicking some things like fishing down the alley.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

No deal is not really an option; the UK Government is not prepared for it. Hence some kind of agreement will have to be reached even if it's just kicking some things like fishing down the alley.

It would be very interesting if this turned out to be the case.
It would mean that the UK never meant what it said and some weasel wording would have to be found (and they're all expert at it) to cover the concessions made.

If I were to rank the importance of standing firm, fishing could be sacrificed (to a reasonable degree) if the level playing field did not fetter our growth and did not fall under any form of ECJ restriction.

Originally Posted by Chris

I live to feed you lines.

---------- Post added at 17:20 ---------- Previous post was at 17:14 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

It would be very interesting if this turned out to be the case.
It would mean that the UK never meant what it said and some weasel wording would have to be found (and they're all expert at it) to cover the concessions made.

If I were to rank the importance of standing firm, fishing could be sacrificed (to a reasonable degree) if the level playing field did not fetter our growth and did not fall under any form of ECJ restriction.

Could be progress on the LPF.

From today’s FT

https://www.ft.com/content/27d46f3b-...6-b007c08a441d

Mr Barnier on Wednesday pointed to recent progress in talks on “level-playing field” guarantees for companies — including in the area of state aid — as a sign that difficult disagreements could be overcome.