The UK appears close to abandoning all hope of a post-Brexit trade deal after weeks of talks rolled on with no breakthrough.
The fifth round of negotiations will end tomorrow with "significant differences" on a string of issues, including fishing rights and following EU rules.
According to the Telegraph, it is now the government's central working assumption that there will be no deal by the time EU rules end on December 31.
That will mean having to trade on World Trade Organisation terms - with strict rules and steep tariffs on everyday goods sent to and from the EU.
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