Hopes muted as EU and UK talk again about post-Brexit ties

  U.K.’s chief negotiator in post-Brexit trade talks called for “more realism” from European Union ahead of start Tuesday of ar round of discussions between two sides.

With expectations of a breakthrough in talks diminishing, re are concerns that y could collapse in coming weeks. Though U.K. left bloc on Jan. 31, it is in a transition period that effectively sees it abide by EU rules until end of this year. two sides have been negotiating future trade ties over past few months but progress has been minimal.

David Frost, British government’s chief negotiator, said two sides “can longer afford to go over well-trodden ground” in deadlocked talks and that EU needs to show “more realism” about U.K.'s status as an independent country. EU side will be led by its long-time Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier.

“Today, I will sit down with Michel Barnier and drive home our clear mess that we must make progress this week if we are to reach an agreement in time," Frost said. “We have w been talking for six months."

trade discussions have made very little progress over summer, with two sides seemingly wide apart on several issues, tably on business regulations, extent to which U.K. can support certain industries and over EU fishing fleet's access to British waters.

Relations appeared to become furr strained Monday following reports that Britain’s Conservative government was attempting to unilaterally ride roughshod over its divorce agreement with EU that paved way for U.K.'s smooth departure earlier this year.

EU officials said any attempt to override international treaty could jeopardize peace in rrn Ireland as well as undermine chances of any trade deal.

British government said publication of planned legislation on Wednesday is intended to tie up some “loose ends” where re was a need for “legal certainty.” It said Internal Market Bill will ensure goods from rrn Ireland, which is part of EU, will continue to have unfettered access to U.K. market, while making clear EU state aid rules, which will continue to apply in rrn Ireland, will t apply in rest of U.K.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Britain could walk away from talks within weeks and insists that a -deal exit would be a “good outcome for U.K.” He said in a statement that any agreement must be sealed by an EU summit scheduled for Oct. 15.

British businesses are worried about a collapse in talks that could see tariffs and or impediments slapped on trade with EU at start of next year. Most ecomists think that costs of a ‘-deal’ outcome would fall disproportionately on U.K.