The Independent UK Brexit trade talks to resume

Brexit trade talks to resume Brexit negotiators will enter an “intensified phase of talks” today after the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, made conciliatory signals to his UK counterpart Lord Frost. With the deadline for a deal looming, Number 10 acknowledged "significant gaps" remain between the two sides and it was "entirely possible that negotiations will not succeed". The negotiations had been in limbo after Boris Johnson's previous deadline for a deal passed last week. Key issues of contention are fishing rights, the governance of any deal and the “level playing field” aimed at preventing unfair competition. Time is short to reach an agreement, with the Brexit transition period set to end on 31 December 31. Both sides had previously said a deal would need to be reached by mid-October in order to allow time for ratification.