EU's Trade Deal Offer to Britain 'Remains Unacceptable'

Talks will begin overnight between Britain and the European Union on a post-Brexit trade agreement, but London believes the EU's latest offer remains unreasonable, a British government source said on Saturday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission Head Ursula von der Leyen both said on Friday that in three weeks without a trade agreement, Britain was likely to complete its trip out of the EU, reports UN News.

"Talks are continuing overnight, but as things stand the offer on the table from the EU remains unacceptable," the British source said.

"The prime minister will leave no stone unturned in this process, but he is absolutely clear: any agreement must be fair and respect the fundamental position that the UK will be a sovereign nation in three weeks' time."

Despite months of negotiations to cover trade after Dec 31, when a transition period that has kept the country in the bloc's single market and customs union after its January departure comes to an end, the EU and Britain are at loggerheads over fishing rights, economic fair play and dispute resolution.

To reach consensus and avoid a messy split, the two sides have set a Sunday deadline.