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A6 WORLD NEWS
Friday 20 November 2020

Brexit trade negotiations suspended because of COVID-19 case

By RAF CASERT and trade and other issues runs
JILL LAWLESS until the end of December.
Associated Press Both sides had hoped to
BRUSSELS (AP) — As if the get a trade deal by then
Brexit trade negotiations to protect hundreds of
were not tortuous enough, thousands of jobs and
the coronavirus added businesses that could suffer
a twist at a crucial stage if Brexit leads to a sharp end
on Thursday when top- to existing trade relations.
level talks had to be Talks have proven
suspended because an EU exceptionally difficult, with
negotiator tested positive the two sides refusing to
for COVID-19. budge on three key issues
It added uncertainty to the - fisheries, how to check
negotiations as a deadline compliance of the deal
looms ever closer and both and standards the U.K. must
sides are still divided on meet to export into the EU.
three key issues. The bloc accuses Britain of
EU chief negotiator Michel wanting to retain access to
Barnier said that together the EU's lucrative markets,
with his U.K. counterpart, much like any EU country,
David Frost, "we have without agreeing to follow
decided to suspend the its rules. The EU fears
negotiations at our level In this file photo dated Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, European Commission's Head of Task Force for Britain will slash social and
for a short period." Talks Relations with the United Kingdom Michel Barnier, centre, leaves the Conference Centre in London environmental standards,
among lower-ranking with unidentified members of his team. and pump state money into
officials will continue in Associated Press U.K. industries, becoming a
the meantime. And once ensure the health and tested positive in March and we expect talks to resume low-regulation economic
the top negotiators can welfare of our teams," the Frost self-isolated that same in London," Downing Street rival on the bloc's doorstep.
resume meeting face-to- British government said in a month after developing said. Britain says the EU is making
face, the talks should be statement. coronavirus symptoms. Time is running out as the EU unreasonable demands
back in London. With face-to-face talks U.K. Prime Minister Boris will need about four weeks and is failing to treat it as
Any long suspension of talks off the table, "the UK and Johnson was hospitalized in to complete the approval an independent, sovereign
will make it tougher for the EU teams have agreed April and is currently back process of any deal that is state.
negotiators to clinch a deal to continue to negotiate in coronavirus quarantine agreed upon. If there is no deal, businesses
ahead of Jan. 1, when the remotely for the time until next Thursday. Only on Wednesday a top on both sides of the English
existing trade agreements being. The talks will resume It appears the situation was European Union official Channel will face tariffs
between the EU and Britain in person when it is judged relatively under control said that trade talks with and other barriers to trade
expire. safe to do so," Downing since the U.K. side said the United Kingdom still starting on Jan. 1. That
"We are discussing with Street said. none of their negotiators face "substantial work" that would hurt economies on
them the implications for The virus, which has been needed to self-isolate that might spill over into next both sides, with the impact
the negotiations. We have brutal for people across the members of the team week. falling most heavily on the
been, and will continue EU and U.K., did not spare would be traveling back to The U.K. left the EU on Jan. U.K., whose economy is
to, act in line with public the negotiations over the Britain as they usually do. 31, but a transition period already reeling under the
health guidelines and to past nine months. Barnier "When it is deemed safe, when EU rules apply to coronavirus pandemic.q

Danish PM taps new minister after mink culling fiasco

Minister Rasmus Prehn was riculture in Ireland said it support the Social Demo-
tapped to replace Jensen, had worked closely with cratic one-party, minority
who was in charge of agri- the owners of the country's government said they no
culture and fisheries. three mink farms. longer had confidence
The mass cull was ordered "Mink farmers continue to in 57-year-old Jensen,
after it was discovered that operate in full compliance prompting his departure.
a mutated version of the with all legislative and ani- The center-right opposition
coronavirus found among mal welfare requirements also expressed similar reser-
minks in Danish farms can and have co-operated vations. The prime minister's
be transmitted to people, fully with these efforts," the traditional presentation of
though there is no evi- department said in a state- a new government mem-
dence so far that it is more ment. ber to Queen Margrethe,
dangerous or resistant to The move followed the who formally is the coun-
vaccines. Earlier this month, cull ordered in Denmark try's head of state, didn't
authorities said that 11 peo- despite the government happen because one of
In this file photo dated Friday Nov. 6, 2020, mink look out from a ple were sickened by it. lacking a legal basis for Frederiksen's family mem-
pen at a farm near Naestved, Denmark. Other countries have noted killing healthy animals. The bers had tested positive to
Associated Press the Danish example. The embarrassing oversight the coronavirus.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark resigned after the govern- Irish government on Thurs- caused it to scramble to In a statement, Frederiksen
(AP) — Danish Prime Min- ment ordered the culling day recommended culling build political consensus for said that she will "out of an
ister Mette Frederiksen ap- of all Danish mink without mink in Ireland despite tests a new law that now has the extra precautionary mea-
pointed a new agriculture having the necessary legis- for the virus not yielding any backing of a majority in the sure not meet the Queen,"
minister Thursday to suc- lation in place. positive results to date. Danish parliament. neither will the outgoing
ceed Mogens Jensen, who Development Cooperation The Department of Ag- The left-leaning parties that agriculture minister.q