Pause on post-Brexit trade talks ‘might just be all for show’

Australian British Chamber of Commerce CEO David McCredie says the pause on post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU “might just be all for show”.

“Part of the problem with this is both sides needed to look like the UK has had to work really hard to get this deal, so this might just be all for show,” he said.

“I think they’re probably very close to a deal, it’s certainly been in the rumour mill for many weeks now that they are very close.

“It’s still the same three things that they’re talking about as being the issues: the governance, the fisheries and also state aid.

“I find it hard to believe that very smart, very clever people are not able to make this work given that both sides continually say that they can see a way forward to a resolution, so if they see a way forward, surely we can find it.

“Is this the end of the conversation? No, it’s not.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are due to speak tomorrow.

“After a week of intense negotiations in London, the two chief negotiators can’t move further forward, they need the principals to take the next steps,” Mr McCredie told Sky News.

“We also know that the deadline sort of feels like the 10th of December which is obviously next Thursday when the EU leaders get together for the next round of the normal EU leadership council meetings.

“It’s still a very much alive situation.

“It’ll happen at the last moment if it’s going to happen, and if it’s not going to happen at the last moment, there may be some sort of extension and then they’ll get something done.”

If an agreement is not reached by December 31, both sides will follow World Trade Organisation rules.

Видео Pause on post-Brexit trade talks ‘might just be all for show’ канала Sky News Australia