Reuters reports that a British minister said that Britain and the European Union have still not clinched a Brexit trade deal as serious issues remain unresolved that prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson signing up.

The trade negotiations have broken every deadline that has yet been set, though both sides say they must either reach a deal or part without one by the end of a transition period on Dec. 31.

The EU is making a "final push" to strike a trade deal with Britain, although there are still deep rifts over fishing rights, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday before meeting EU ambassadors in Brussels.

"I'm still reasonably optimistic but there's no news to report to you this morning," British Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News amid speculation in London that a deal could be announced on Wednesday.