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The EU and UK concluded their third round of trade negotiations by video conference without any real progress on putting a future trading arrangement in place.
The UK is committed to leaving the transition arrangement it has with the EU at the end of this year, although it has an option to extend if it chooses to do so for up to two more years.
Negative press briefings
Both sides were negative and accusing the other in the wrap-up press briefing, with EU lead negotiator Michel Barnier giving an extensive presentation and online question and answer session with the media in Brussels. His UK counterpart, David Frost, provided a press briefing in London.
The point of conflict remains as it always has been, with the EU accusing the UK of wanting the privileges of the single market without the rules and the UK believing that the EU wants to impose EU rules on the UK, not recognising that they are no longer a member but an independent state.
Still hope
A final round of discussions are scheduled for June and then it will be decision time to find the breakthrough or prepare for trade under WTO terms.
The prospect of a deal is bleak at present, but it was the same ahead of the conclusion of the withdrawal agreement when the EU president and UK prime minister thrashed out a deal that was mutually satisfactory.
Although, from the tone of negotiation, it appears there were different interpretations of that agreement by both parties.
Implications for farmers
If the EU and UK move to trading on WTO terms at the start of 2021, it will be a nightmare for Irish exports of agricultural goods, as well as German car manufacturers.
Every sector of Irish agriculture are big exporters to the UK and while alternatives may be found, in many cases at considerable inconvenience and cost, there is simply no alternative with beef.
The big losers will be Irish farmers who will face whatever trade barriers and tariffs that the UK chooses to introduce
Trade on the island of Ireland is covered by the withdrawal agreement, irrespective of whether or not a long-term future trading relationship is agreed between the EU and UK.
It provides for the island of Ireland to continue as a single market, with Northern Irish milk and lambs going south and pigs coming north for processing as is the current situation.
Therefore, the big losers will be Irish farmers who will face whatever trade barriers and tariffs that the UK chooses to introduce in the event of trade being on WTO terms from the start of next year.
SHARING OPTIONS: