UK and EU ‘haggling’, as hopes for trade deal rise

London, Dec 24 : The EU and UK are continuing talks on post-Brexit trade, amid mounting speculation that they are close to agreeing a deal.
A senior journalist said it was looking “very likely” the two sides were “heading towards” an agreement, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
But this was “not signed and sealed”, with “haggling” going on, she added. Disputes over fishing rights and business competition rules remain the key hurdles to reaching a deal.
An EU official close to the talks said: “It is crunch time. But talk of a deal announcement is premature.” And a Downing Street source said it was “possible but far from certain” that an agreement could be secured later on Wednesday.
The two sides have until 31 December, when the UK leaves EU trading rules, to reach a deal and then get it approved – or ratified – by parliamentarians.