Brexit deal still snagged on three main issues, EU envoys told

The EU and Britain are very close to agreement on most issues as time runs out for a trade deal but they are still at odds over fishing rights, guarantees of fair competition and ways to solve future disputes, an EU official told ambassadors in Brussels.

"We are both close and far away. It seems that we are very close to agreement on most issues but differences on the three contentious issues persist," a senior European Union diplomat said after ambassadors were briefed on Friday by an EU negotiator.