Disputes over fishing and business rules remain, with the UK government saying discussions in Brussels have reached “a critical moment”.
The EU mood was described as “gloomy” as chief negotiator Michel Barnier met UK counterpart Lord Frost.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at 16:00 GMT.
If no deal is done and ratified by 31 December, the UK and EU could introduce import charges on each other’s goods.
Speaking in the House of Commons, minister Penny Mordaunt said: “We are at a critical moment in the negotiations.”
She added: “We are all working to get a deal, but the only way that’s possible is if it’s compatible with our sovereignty and takes back control of our country’s trade and waters.”
Asked when the cut-off point for a deal was, a European Commission spokesman said: “We are not going to speculate on a last-chance date.
“We are fully committed to substantial negotiations. We’ve always said and continue to say it’s the substance that prevails over timing.”
Earlier, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney described the EU negotiating team’s frame of mind as “gloomy” and “downbeat”.
Brexit – The basics
Brexit happened but rules didn’t change at once: The UK left the European Union on 31 January but leaders needed time to negotiate a deal for life afterwards – they got 11 months
Talks are on again: The UK and the EU have until 31 December to agree a trade deal as well as other things, such as fishing rights
If there is no deal: Border checks and taxes will be introduced for goods travelling between the UK and the EU. But deal or no deal, we will still see changes
What are they arguing about?
The EU is warning that, without ongoing access to UK waters for its fleets, UK fishermen will no longer have special access to EU markets to sell their goods.
But the UK argues that what goes on in its own waters should be under its control as a sovereign country.
The UK and EU are also at loggerheads over the so-called “level playing field” – a set of shared rules and standards to ensure businesses in one country do not have an unfair advantage over their competitors in others.
Brussels wants the UK to adhere to EU rules on workers’ rights, environmental regulations and state aid, but the UK says the goal of Brexit is to break free from following common rules and reassert national sovereignty.
And the two sides disagree on how any future trading disputes should be resolved.
Tight timetable
If the EU and UK reach a deal, it will have to be turned into legal text and translated into all EU languages, then ratified by the European Parliament by 31 December.
The deadline also applies to the UK government, which is likely to introduce legislation implementing parts of any deal reached, which MPs would vote on.
The 27 EU national parliaments may also need to ratify an agreement, depending on the contents of the deal.
Big week ahead
Later on Monday, the UK Internal Market Bill will return to the House of Commons.
It could allow the government to break international law, by overriding elements of its original Brexit treaty with the EU, known as the withdrawal agreement.
The EU is unhappy with this, as is the House of Lords, which voted to scrap them.
But the government is still backing its measures – which could cause tensions in the trade talks – and is expected to push them through the Commons on Monday evening.
The Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill, which contains more powers to break the legal requirements of the withdrawal agreement, will also return to the Commons this week.
And on Thursday, EU leaders will meet in Brussels for a two-day summit where they could sign off a deal, if the two sides can reach an agreement by then.
Source: BBC
