Britain and the European Union cautioned each other on Monday that time was running out for a Brexit trade deal as negotiators sparred over state aid, enforcement and fishing in a bid to avoid a tumultuous exit in just a month’s time. 

The United Kingdom finally leaves the EU’s orbit on Dec. 31 when a transition period of informal membership ends, though both sides are rushing to hash out a deal that will govern nearly $1 trillion in trade.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is grappling with Europe’s worst official death toll from COVID-19, says a deal would be preferable but that Britain would flourish without a deal when it goes it alone after 48 years of membership.

-We really are now running out of time. This is the crucial week - we need to get a breakthrough- British Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky, adding that if good progress was made this week then negotiations could be extended.

The EU delivered a similar message.

-We are running out of time here- said Ireland’s Brexit supremo, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney. -The truth of Brexit is now being exposed in terms of the challenges of it.-

After breaking all the deadlines imposed by both sides, the negotiators are still stuck on three main areas: fishing, state aid and how to resolve any future disputes. They have been stuck on those three issues for weeks.

A trade deal on goods would safeguard nearly $1 trillion in annual trade and buttress peace in British-ruled Northern Ireland, though some disruption is almost certain at the busiest EU-UK border points.

Talks between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and British chief negotiator David Frost continued on Sunday. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was a significant week for Brexit. 

-David Frost had made clear that we’re continuing the negotiations because we still think there is a prospect that we can get an agreement and while there is we should persevere with those- Eustice said. 

FISH

Ireland’s Coveney said this was a key week and that a deal could be done if there was give and take on both sides.

But he told Ireland’s Newstalk Radio that a failure to agree on fishing rights could wreck a deal.

-If there isn’t an agreement on this, the whole thing could fall on the back of it and that’s the worry- he said.

While fishing alone contributed just 0.03% of British economic output in 2019, it is an emotive subject; many Brexit supporters see it as a symbol of the regained sovereignty they hope leaving the EU will bring. Combined with fish and shellfish processing, the sector makes up 0.1% of UK GDP.

Britain wants “zonal attachment” to agree a total allowable catch for the United Kingdom’s waters - a step that would give it a much larger quota share than if the fish maths were worked out on the EU’s proposals.

-All we’re asking for ... is there to be annual negotiations based on the science and also for there to be a move towards a fairer, more scientific sharing methodology, which is called zonal attachment, which is broadly where the fish are to be found- Eustice told BBC radio.

-Under that analysis we currently only have access to about half of the fish in our own waters. That is profoundly unfair on our fishermen - we’ve been clear throughout that needs to change.-