What are the red lines that could block a Brexit trade deal?

The negotiations between the UK and EU begin on Monday and could founder over fish, finance, data or regulations, writes Andrew Woodcock

The EU’s stance has hardened this week (AFP/Getty)

For anyone who thought Boris Johnson had “got Brexit done” with the deal he struck with Brussels in October and passed through parliament in January, the fact that fresh negotiations will begin in Brussels on Monday may come as some surprise.

And the fact that these talks could lead to a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 is something so contrary to the prime minister’s narrative that he refuses to use the term himself, preferring to call it an “Australian-style settlement”.

In reality, last year’s withdrawal agreement dealt only with the terms of the UK’s divorce and put in place a “transition period” lasting until the end of December during which London and Brussels can try to thrash out a trade deal to avoid the additional paperwork and levies, the disruption to ports and airports and the imposition of non-tariff barriers which would result from departure on World Trade Organisation terms.