By Chathushka Perera
LONDON, UK (CWBN)_ Reportedly, in-person negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union regarding the post-Brexit free trade agreement are expected to recommence in London over the weekend.
The revelation puts an end to the uncertainty reflected throughout Thursday (26th Nov), as to whether Michel Barnier, Head of Task Force for Relations with the UK, would travel to London to recommence talks with his counterpart, David Frost.
Face-to-face negotiations came to a halt after Barnier was forced to self-quarantine after a member of his negotiation team tested positive for Covid-19, earlier this month.
Although the issue was a serious dampener to the Brexit timeline, both parties expect to reach an agreement by the deadline. However, as previously reported, in case this does not occur, the trade arrangement between the UK and EU would revert to the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
While the reversion would affect both the EU and UK, the latter is expected to have more to lose should a “no-deal Brexit” come into play, particularly in terms of its economy and national security, even though the British Government has been making deals with parties outside Europe to support its economy.
Over the second quarter of the year, the British economy took a serious hit of 20.4% but managed to recover by 9.6% over the third. With a second lockdown imposed over the last quarter, experts predict serious implications are yet to be faced well into 2021, even if the pandemic comes to an end.
Edited by Elishya Perera
