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Government sources have said this week that the EU's approach to trade talks has resulted in "paralysis". Brexit negotiations have stalled in recent months over two key issues
– fisheries and regulatory alignment. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to fulfil a Leave campaign promise that the UK will take back control of its waters post-Brexit. Previously, EU
vessels had free access to British fishing grounds, leaving many fishermen in the UK aggrieved. However, the EU's chief negotiator – Michel Barnier – has warned Mr Johnson he cannot
secure access to European markets without allowing EU vessels into UK waters. The UK is also looking to avoid EU regulations – giving the country more freedom to set its own laws on trading
standards. A Government source said this week: "The particular way the EU insisted on parallelism led to paralysis. Obviously everything needs to be up for discussion, but it makes no
sense to have everything going at the speed of the most difficult issues. "Now they need to adapt their approach to make sure talks throughout the summer don't suffer from
unnecessary roadblocks." And one economist warned in February that Michel Barnier's "unreasonable demands" would result in deadlock. Writing in the Telegraph, Liam
Halligan said: "EU bureaucrats, meanwhile, show little interest in securing a mutually beneficial FTA. "Brussels’ priority is to shield the bloc from competition, while
discouraging others from following the UK out the door. "Britain wants a Canada-style FTA with no regulatory 'level playing field'. "In 2017, EU chief negotiator Michel
Barnier produced a chart showing that was the likely end point, adding that a 'bespoke' deal was 'a non-starter'. "Now Barnier insists a Canada deal is
unavailable' and any UK-EU deal must be “unique” – a total volte-face. " READ MORE: HOW ICELAND THREATENED 'ANARCHY' WITH OUTRAGEOUS FISHERIES CLAIM He even predicted
that the UK – alongside its new trading allies – would replace the EU as the biggest trading partner. He said: "If we join the Trans Pacific Partnership, it will be a bigger trading
bloc than the EU. "And they aren't asking to take our fish or be governed by their laws and courts."