EU-UK deadlock on trade talks goes on with time running out

  European Union and Britain remained delocked Friday in ir talks on tre ties after Brexit, with EU negotiator Michel Barnier saying that any chance of a deal seemed to be slipping away.

“Too often this week it felt as if we were going backwards more than forward given short time left,” he said in a damning assessment of negotiations.

“I simply do t understand why we are wasting valuable time,” he said after 7th round of talks concluded with little reported progress.

British side left just as frustrated, saying EU kept insisting that Britain would have to continue to here to EU rules for full free tre even though nation left bloc on Jan. 31.

“ EU is still insisting t only that we must accept continuity with EU state aid and fisheries policy, but also that this must be agreed before any furr substantive work can be done in any or area of negotiation,” said U.K. negotiator David Frost.

Barnier said effective deline for talks was end of October to allow for legal vetting and national approvals before any deal comes into force on Jan. 1, 2021, when Britain's transition period from member state to n-EU member ends.

“I am disappointed and worried,” Barnier said. He ded that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to live up to his promise to instill a sense of urgency in talks.

parties disagree on rules for state aid for businesses and on fisheries, with U.K. opposed to EU demands for long-term access to British waters. Both say y want to avoid a “ deal” scenario that would see tariffs and or restrictions imposed on tre.

Britain is seeking a free-tre pact similar to one EU negotiated with Cana. EU wants to ensure both sides have similar rules on a wide range of issues, including workers’ rights, environment and government subsidies, before discussing such an agreement.