When the United Kingdom left the European Union at the end of last January, both sides still had to hammer out a trade deal and other issues as part of their post-Brexit relationship. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been to Brussels recently to meet with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and negotiators for the sides are still talking. Trade issues like fishing rights need to be resolved as the clock ticks towards a December 31st deadline. That’s when the UK stops following EU trading rules. 

To discuss:

• Helen Thomas is the CEO and Founder of BlondeMoney.
• Brian O’Donovan is a Washington correspondent for the Irish broadcaster, RTE News.
• Klaus Larres is a Professor of history and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 
• Wayne Fitzgerald is Deputy Leader at Peterborough City Council. 

For more: 

Lorry park being built for Brexit congestion misses deadline https://t.co/Pew1Zch39K

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 15, 2020

"It’s time people who lived the Brexit fantasy finally accept they are hitting a very different reality” says ex-Labour spokesman Alistair Campbell

The EU “hasn't understood the vote and neither have you” says the Telegraph's Camila Tominey#politicslive https://t.co/j9o8ikxhmn pic.twitter.com/SDpgqADzK9

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 14, 2020

The pound extended a rally after a BBC journalist tweeted that British lawmakers felt a Brexit trade deal may be close https://t.co/TYbHCOlKDi

— Bloomberg (@business) December 15, 2020

France has shrugged off plans by Britain to deploy Royal Navy ships to protect the country's fishing rights in the case of a no-deal Brexit.

"Keep calm and carry on" an Elysee official told Reuters on Saturday, quoting the British wartime sloganhttps://t.co/LY8K41baFj

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 12, 2020