Chief Brexit negotiator for the European.........>

EU: Chief Brexit negotiator for the European Commission Michel Barnier has

issued a reply to the strongly-worded letter sent by the UK's chief negotiator

David Frost to Barnier on Tuesday evening.

- Frost's letter accused the EU of treating the UK as an "unworthy partner" in

offering a "relatively low-quality trade agreement coming with unprecedented EU

oversight of our laws and institutions."

- Barnier's response seeks to cool the situation, stating that "I would not like

the tone that you have taken to impact the mutual trust and constructive

attitude that is essential between us."

- The bulk of the response puts across points on the importance of LPF

provisions, and on how the EU is not going to go by precedent from past FTAs

with other third-party countries. For example, the letter states "is no

automatic entitlement [for the UK] to any benefits that the EU may have offered

or granted in other contexts and circumstances to other [...] partners."

- See MNI Mainwire story 'MNI SOURCES: EU Sees "Hot Autumn" Trade Talks With The

UK' for the latest on Brussels' view of the ongoing negotiations.