Fish for finance

Britain and France on Nov. 4 failed to resolve a row on fishing rights that has threatened to turn into a post-Brexit trade war but vowed to press on with efforts to find a solution through dialogue.

Brexit Minister David Frost met French Europe Minister Clement Beaune in Paris and both sides emphasized the two would speak again early next week.

The average volume of fish caught by EU fishermen in British waters was 760,000 tons per year before Brexit

Britain on Oct. 28 summoned the French ambassador to explain "threats" made over post-Brexit fishing rights, hours after France's Prime Minister Jean Castex offered to open talks to resolve the increasingly bitter row.

The two sides are at loggerheads over licensing rules for EU boats wanting to operate in waters around Britain and the Channel Islands.

A smouldering row between London and Paris over post-Brexit fishing rights has flared up, with France threatening trade disruptions from next week if its boats are not granted more access to British waters.

Britain said on Sept. 28 it would grant 12 out of 47 applications for new licenses to small boats from the European Union to fish in its waters, provoking an angry response from France.

French fishermen have become increasingly angry over how Britain has controlled access for EU boats into its waters after it exited the bloc.

In a speech to the European Parliament on Friday,  European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier gave a stark assessment of the ultimatum the EU is giving to the British: access to the EU's single market will be conditional on keeping British fishing waters open to boats from the bloc.

A trade deal is unlikely to be agreed with the UK by Sunday's deadline, European leaders have been warned according to Bbc.

They were told by European Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen no deal was the likeliest end to "difficult" talks.