EU, UK TALKS GO NOWHERE, DEADLINE TO SEAL DEAL PUSHED TO WEEKEND

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON AND THE EUROPEAN UNION’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE GAVE THEMSELVES UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEKEND TO SEAL A NEW TRADE PACT AFTER FAILING TO OVERCOME PERSISTENT RIFTS OVER A “FRANK” AND “LIVELY” DINNER OF TURBOT.

FOLLOWING BREXIT, BRITAIN DROPS OUT OF THE EU’S TRADING ORBIT IN THREE WEEKS. FAILURE TO AGREE ON NEW RULES TO GOVERN EVERYTHING FROM TRADE TO ENERGY TIES WOULD SNARL BORDERS, SHOCK FINANCIAL MARKETS AND SOW CHAOS THROUGH SUPPLY CHAINS IN A WORLD ALREADY GRAPPLING WITH THE ECONOMIC COST OF COVID-19.

WITH FEARS RUNNING HIGH OF A CHAOTIC NO-DEAL FINALE TO THE FIVE-YEAR BREXIT CRISIS, A SENIOR UK GOVERNMENT SOURCE SAID THE LEADERS’ DISCUSSION IN BRUSSELS WAS “FRANK”.