On Brexit, things close, as you’ve heard, waiting apparently on a PM:VDL call, but member states haven’t been briefed on the whole deal yet..

As they would, senior European source saying “big concessions from the UK on fish”. We’ll know when we see, but sign EU27 in sales mode.

Clearly both sides will say other has compromised more - only way to tell is when the detail is published which even if deal comes tonight, we won’t get till tomorrow - as I reported last week text was 800 pages and 1000 further in annexes etc, though Tony C says it’s now 2000

To be clear - we can only tell who compromised more than just “both sides” when we see the text... the informational value I take from sources such as this making claims like this though, is that UK-EU deal is very close, though member states with vetos yet to see it in round...

Almost certainly will be! https://twitter.com/antonyotter/status/1341799717525708800

German council presidency source says no council ambassadors meeting scheduled yet... https://twitter.com/sfischer_eu/status/1341798424455372803

New:

Government tells industry that third country listing for agrifood/ almost all plant exports has been agreed and will be formally given legal effect in EU Official Journal on Monday to begin Jan 1st. Big sigh of relief for farmers. Indicative of bigger deal near.

There is an issue on potato trade though, particularly seed potatoes, which EU has not agreed to be listed on basis of no dynamic alignment with EU rules @JP_Biz

So that’s fish and chips sorted then

NEW:
Government has secured listing for ware (eating) potatoes... but not for seed potatoes - significant industry in Scotland, 80% of exports, high value.

Now not listed, banned for export into EU because of UK lack of “dynamic alignment” - in theory should apply GB-NI too...

NB that’s extract from a letter to industry sent yesterday - question now as to whether UK would reciprocate and similarly ban EU exports of seed potatoes into UK...
Egypt also an important market - Truss has signed a continuity deal there - will check the detail on seed potatoes

Our resident seed potato expert: https://twitter.com/bbcdouglasf/status/1341837830096625664

Seed potato exporters have been rushing to export their goods to the EU in the past few weeks ahead of Dec 31st - some might be stuck in those queues in fact... Government will hope to negotiate listed status here next year

Response from farmers, in general big weight off back that listing secured: https://twitter.com/nfutweets/status/1341810913746272256?s=21

If this is any type of model for agreement we may be about to get, pattern will be - hurrah, UK and EU have maintained mutual access to each other’s markets... but then in weeds - some quite significant changes for UK access into EU (as well as eg loss of fishing quota for EU)...

Eg zero tariff, zero quota deal for goods... but will it apply to all cars, eg electric cars, because of “rules of origin”. Eg many TVs are imported into UK after East European assembly... with high eg Chinese content - retailers fear 14% tariff might still apply even in deal.