Suspension of sanctions The Franco-British fishing rights dispute enters a crucial week

The dispute over fishing rights between the UK and France entered a crucial negotiation period this week. According to Agence France-Presse, French President Emmanuel Macron said on the 1st that the retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom that were scheduled to start on the 2nd were suspended because a new dialogue on the fishing rights dispute was planned this week.

In this regard, the British government spokesman said on the evening of the 1st that the British side welcomed the French approach and was willing to continue in-depth discussions on fishery issues to solve the problem of French fishing vessels applying for permits. David Frost, the British secretary of state in charge of Post-Brexit ECONOMIC and trade cooperation, will meet with French officials in Paris on the 4th.

According to French media reports on the 2nd, Macron told the media in Glasgow that France "will not impose sanctions (on the United Kingdom) during the negotiations", and the negotiations between the two sides will last until the 4th, and he hopes to "give the negotiations a chance". He stressed that "the next few hours are crucial".

In addition, British media reported on the 2nd that in order to ease the atmosphere of the talks between the two sides, France has released a British fishing boat that was previously detained.

After the "Brexit", the two countries have been arguing for months over the fishing rights of French fishing boats in British waters. The French government announced on October 27 that if the Uk does not issue fishing licenses to more French fishing vessels, the French side will ban British fishing boats from entering some French ports from November 2, and strengthen inspections of British vessels and trucks traveling to and from the UK. Moreover, the French side is preparing a second round of sanctions, and does not rule out reconsidering the power supply to the British side.

After the meeting between British Prime Minister Johnson and Macron, the French presidential office issued a statement saying that the British and French leaders had agreed to take practical measures to resolve the fishing rights dispute in the coming days and agreed on the need to ease tensions.

However, the British side denies reaching any such consensus. Johnson said Britain and France were longtime allies. However, the British side's position on fishing rights has not changed.

There are concerns that the UK-France fishing rights dispute could trigger a trade war between the UK and the EU. Britain's "Daily Telegraph" said that before the Meeting between the British and French leaders, Johnson had said that France's previously announced retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom may cause the entire EU to violate the trade agreement reached with the United Kingdom.

Author: □ reporter Wang Jing Comprehensive report

Source: Economic Reference