BRUSSELS (AP) - As if the Brexit trade negotiations were not tortuous enough, the coronavirus added a twist at a crucial stage Thursday when top-level talks had to be suspended because an EU negotiator tested positive for COVID-19.
It added uncertainty to the negotiations as a deadline looms ever closer and both sides are still divided on three key issues.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said together with his U.K. counterpart, David Frost, "we have decided to suspend the negotiations at our level for a short period." Talks among lower-ranking officials will continue in the meantime. And once the top negotiators can resume meeting face-to-face, the talks should be back in London.
Any long suspension of talks will make it tougher for the negotiators to clinch a deal ahead of Jan. 1, when the existing trade agreements between the EU and Britain expire.
"We are discussing with them the implications for the negotiations. We have been, and will continue to, act in line with public health guidelines and to ensure the health and welfare of our teams," the British government said in a statement.
With face-to-face talks off the table, "the UK and EU teams have agreed to continue to negotiate remotely for the time being. The talks will resume in person when it is judged safe to do so," Downing Street said.
The virus, which has been brutal for people across the EU and U.K., did not spare the negotiations over the past nine months. Barnier tested positive in March and Frost self-isolated that same month after developing coronavirus symptoms. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized in April and is currently back in coronavirus quarantine until next Thursday.
It appears the situation was relatively under control since the U.K. side said none of their negotiators needed to self-isolate that members of the team would be traveling back to Britain as they usually do.
"When it is deemed safe, we expect talks to resume in London," Downing Street said.
Time is running out as the EU will need about four weeks to complete the approval process of any deal that is agreed upon.