James Forsyth James Forsyth

Fishing could sink the Brexit negotiations

Boris Johnson holding a kipper, picture credit: Getty

Throughout the Brexit talks it has been declared that the deal wouldn’t fall over fish. But that is now looking increasingly likely. The two sides remain far apart on the subject and time is running short.

Fishing is not the only issue, there are still some disagreements over the Commission’s desire to exempt itself and the European Investment Bank from the subsidy control provisions of the agreement when the UK would have no such carve out. But fish is the most problematic area.

Johnson is prepared to leave without a deal over the fishing issue

The EU, as Michel Barnier made clear this morning, are insisting on an fisheries transition period of eight years, a limited uplift to the UK quota and the right to impose tariffs on British goods if European fleets see their access to these waters cut at the end of this period. This position infuriates the UK side. They want both a more meaningful increase in quota and a shorter transition; the eight year transition means that the UK wouldn’t regain control over its waters until a dozen years after this country voted to leave.

It is expected that Boris Johnson and the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak again within the next 48 hours.

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