Paris: David Frost, the UK's Brexit Minister, and Clement Beaune, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, met in Paris to try to defuse tensions over a fishing dispute between the two countries. However, Beaune later stated that there is still a lot of work to be done because, according to media reports, significant differences exist.
The main point of contention during Thursday's talks, according to French media, was the interpretation of the post-Brexit fishing agreement. France has accused the United Kingdom of making fishing licences more difficult to obtain.
The French Ministry of the Sea retaliated last week by announcing that British fishing vessels will be prohibited from docking in six French ports in Hauts-de-France, Normandy, and Brittany beginning on Tuesday. France would also beef up sanitary, customs, and safety checks on British ships and lorries, according to the statement. However, French President Emmanuel Macron later ruled out such retaliatory measures, saying, "We will not impose sanctions while we are negotiating." The French had agreed not to "proceed with these threats," according to a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "Both sides are eager to continue talking," he added.
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