Lots of briefing ex Downing St tonight on “historic” backstop deal being close. My sense is that the level of optimism in Bxl is not much different to that expressed by @MichelBarnier yesterday, ie things moving but still a good bit to go (“a mountain to climb”, acc to one source
All the action is around the UK-wide customs backstop, or temporary customs arrangement. London wants it strictly time-limited, IE says it has to be all-weather. So duration, rules, legal base all need to be worked out...
As well as how it will impinge on EU’s own trade deals with third countries (ie, are they negotiating for 27 or 28 countries?).
The other question is, will a TCA be smuggled into the WA or will it be part of the political declaration?
And is Theresa May prepared to defy the DUP and accept NI being in the single mkt for goods, with the attendant checks at UK ports, or some other “de-dramatised” option?
It suits both sides to keep at it till the last minute (Sun night?); a premature deal wd attract possibly fatal hostile fire. Sherpas meet Monday, GAC in Lux on Tuesday, #EUCO on Wed. Who knows...?
