The United Kingdom and European Union have resumed negotiations on post-Brexit trade, with both parties in a race against time to reach an agreement.
British Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC that “sticking points” on fishing and business rules remained.
UK chief negotiator Lord Frost is taking part in discussions with EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels.
Ireland’s foreign minister has said it is “in everybody’s interest” to reach an agreement soon.
Border checks and taxes will be introduced for goods travelling between the UK and the EU if a trade deal is not reached and ratified by the end of the year.
But the two sides still disagree over access to UK waters by the EU’s fishing fleets – an issue which erupted last week, with the UK accusing the EU of making extra “last-minute” demands.
Eustice told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “There’s still a deal to be done, but there’s no denying that the end of last week was quite a setback.”
He added: “The sticking points remain – quite fundamental ones. We’ve been clear all along that we can only do an agreement if it respects our sovereignty.”
Eustice also said: “I think we probably are now in the final few days in terms of deciding whether there can be an agreement.”
