Brussels, Dec 5(UNI) In an effort to break the deadlock regarding a post-Brexit trade deal the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen have agreed to speak later officials said on Saturday.

This was necessitated after "significant divergences" remained following a week of intensive talks between the two sides to get a break through, the BBC reported.

The main sticking points in the talks include fishing rights, rules on state subsidies for business and arrangements for policing any deal.

The UK left the EU on 31 January but remains under EU trading rules until a transition period ends on 31 December.

Sources said the demands for EU fishing boats to have 10-year access to UK waters was one of the issues that derailed talks.

Positive voices have been heard from both sides as the spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was "always room for compromise".

And Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he "fervently hoped" a trade deal can be agreed.

However, France's Europe minister suggested his country could veto a deal if it was not satisfied. French President Emmanuel Macron has been keen to ensure that the French fishing industry does not lose too much access to British waters.

Meanwhile former UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said that the probability of a deal was "still high" but there would be compromise on both sides and the "big decisions won't be this afternoon between the prime minister and president of the commission but in wires running hot between Berlin and Paris and other capitals".

UNI XC ACL1622