UK Foreign Secretary Raab on Brexit Talks With EU: We Need to Double Down and Get a Trade Deal

The day before, Reuters reported citing diplomats and officials in Brussels that though the EU’s trade talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government were renewed amid the raging pandemic, there has been “an impasse" in the talks.

UK's Foreign Minister Dominic Raab stated on Wednesday that Britain and the European Union should get a trade deal done by the end of the year to end any additional uncertainty.

"Let's be very clear about it, our position is unchanged. The transition period ends on the 31st of December, that is enshrined in law," he told parliament.

"There is no intention of changing that and actually what we should do now ... is focus on removing any additional uncertainty, doing a deal by the end of the year and allowing both the UK and the European Union and all of its member states to bounce back as we come through the coronavirus."

The UK remains locked in as yet inconclusive negotiations with the EU on the UK's future relationship with the bloc following the termination of the transition period agreed up on 31 December.

Politicians on both sides have, however, voiced concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the nature of the situation, claiming an extension to the transition period should be granted.