EU chief Brexit negotiator leaves talks, declines comment

Teams from Britain and the European Union were holding face-to-face talks on a post-Brexit trade deal on Saturday, with both sides sounding gloomy about striking an agreement in the little time that remains.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier returned to London to meet his UK counterpart David Frost.

Talks have been held virtually for the past week as Barnier completed a spell of self-isolation after a member of his team tested positive for the coronavirus.

COVID-19 is just one complication in negotiations that remain snagged over key issues including fishing rights and fair-competition rules.

Barnier said on Friday that the remote talks had made little progress and the “same significant divergences persist.”

(Image Credit: AP)