Follow the latest updates as Britain rushes to secure trade deal by end of transition period

Donald Trumps outgoing administration is negotiating with the UK to secure a mini-deal reducing trade tariffs, the US presidents trade chief has said.
Robert Lighthizer suggested tariffs on Scotch whisky could be reduced if a post-Brexit pact is successful. The government hopes to broker a full trade agreement with Mr Trumps successor, Joe Biden, though a mini-deal could ease trade before then.
It comes as MPs were warned they could be recalled from the Christmas recess next week if a post-Brexit trade deal is secured with the EU.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen raised hopes for a deal by saying there is a path” to an agreement, but warned the route is very narrow.
She said a resolution on the difficulties over fishing may prove impossible, but indicated progress had been made on measures to prevent either side unfairly competing with the other by cutting standards or using state subsidies.
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UK in tunnel negotiations, Priti Patel says
The UK will work flat out for a Brexit trade deal and negotiators are in “tunnel” negotiations but if a deal with the EU is not possible then the country will be prepared, the home secretary, Priti Patel, has said.
“First of all, the prime minister and the government, we’ve all been very clear we are not walking away, we will continue to negotiate to get this free-trade agreement,” Ms Patel told LBC radio.
“You used metaphors: We are in that tunnel of negotiation and our teams continue to work incredibly hard,” she added.
The “tunnel” is a term for an intense final stage of secretive, make-or-break negotiations.
Samuel Osborne17 December 2020 08:09
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MPs warned they could be recalled from recess if trade deal secured
MPs were warned they could be recalled from the Christmas recess next week if a post-Brexit trade deal is secured with the EU.
Downing Street said that the House of Commons will break today but put parliamentarians on notice to return at haste in the event of a breakthrough in negotiations with as little as 48 hours notice.
“Parliament has long shown it can move at pace and the country would expect nothing less,” No 10 said.
Samuel Osborne17 December 2020 07:57
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Trump admin trying to secure mini trade deal with UK
Donald Trump’s trade chief has said the outgoing US administration is negotiating with the UK to secure a mini-deal reducing trade tariffs.
Trade representative Robert Lighthizer suggested tariffs on Scotch whisky could be reduced if a post-Brexit pact is successful.
Talks on an interim deal emerged after the UK dropped tariffs against the US over subsidies for aerospace firms.
Mr Lighthizer told the BBC: “I’m talking to (international trade secretary) Liz Truss, about trying to work out some kind of a deal … I’m hopeful we can get some kind of an agreement out you know, we don’t have a lot of time left.
“We have the advantage in that both the US and the UK – particularly the current government of the UK – are not big subsidisers, where some other countries are more inclined to subsidise. So it would be helpful if we could come to some kind of agreement.”
Scotch whisky was badly affected when Mr Trump’s White House hit the EU with tariffs on £5.6bn worth of goods in retaliation for state support given to Airbus. The EU responded with tariffs on £3bn of US goods over subsidies given to Boeing but the UK will suspend those measures from 1 January after the post-Brexit transition period ends.
Samuel Osborne17 December 2020 07:46
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Good morning and welcome to the latest Brexit updates as Britain races to secure a trade deal by the end of the transition period on 31 December.
Samuel Osborne17 December 2020 07:39