TRADE talks between the UK and EU have resumed this morning after Boris Johnson held a tense phone call with Irish PM Michael Martin.
The EU chief negotiator said he would work with “patience and determination” to reach a deal with his British counterparts as talks kicked off this weekend.
Meanwhile, prime minister Boris Johnson spoke with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin late Friday and “underlined his commitment to reaching a deal that respects the sovereignty of the UK”.
But he also “reaffirmed the need to prioritise the Good Friday Agreement and avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland,” according to a summary of the call released by London.
The news comes after the prime minister admitted “substantial differences” are blocking hopes of the two sides reaching a trade deal.
Talks remain stalled over the thorny issues of fishing and state aid as the clock ticks down to the end of the transition period on December 31.
Last week, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier had to self isolate after a colleague tested positive for Covid, suspending all in-person negotiations.
Follow our Brexit live blog for all the latest news and updates…
