EU to UK No more sausages for you

European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic is tired of waiting for the UK to implement terms on the Northern Ireland (NI) protocol and said the EU will investigate all options, which includes legal action and possibly even quotas and tariffs on British goods (including sausages).  For the UK’s part, David Frost is considering the possibility of the UK acting on the Article 16 clause, which gives either side the right to right to act unilaterally If an agreement cannot be reached.

As part of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland is considered part of the EU, and therefore, would assume the same trade laws as the rest of the EU. The NI Protocol was put in place to keep a “soft” border between the UK and Northern Ireland.  However, the UK hasn’t been respecting the new laws.  The UK says that the articles were meant to be more flexible due to the sensitive nature of the peace agreement.  The EU says the UK needs to implement the written articles.  Tensions have increased after the two sides began sparring over rules on chilled meats.   As of Wednesday, there was no by-pass and negotiations have stalled. 

The Pound took the brunt of the news of a standstill in negotiations.  For perspective, EUR/GBP had been trading lower since the Brexit agreement was reached in late December 2020 until early April.  However, since mid-February, EUR/GBP has been trading in a range between 0.8472 and 0.8736. 

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

On a 1-hour timeframe, it’s easier to see that EUR/GBP went bid on the news of no solution in the talks from 0.8607 to 0.8638.  Short-term horizontal resistance above is at 0.8646, 0.8651 and 0.8673.  Near term support in the downside is at the day’s lows near 0.8588 and the June 4^th lows near 0.8565.  Below there, support doesn’t cross until the April 5^th lows near 0.8472 (see daily).

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

GBP/USD had been moving higher since mid-September 2020 in an orderly channel formation.  However, on February 18^th, the pair broke through the top trendline of the wedge before failing at 1.4241 and forming a shooting star candlestick.  Price corrected lower (red channel) and broker higher out of the correction channel on March 7^th.  Since then, GBP/USD appears to be forming a rounding top and a consolidation pattern between 1.4083 and 1.4250. 

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

On a 1-hour timeframe, its easier to see how GBP/USD moved lower from 1.4175 down to current levels near 1.4115.  Support is down at the June 4^th lows near 1.4083 and then the all-important horizontal support and psychological resistance level of 1.4000.  Below there, price can fall to 1.3940 (see daily).  Intraday resistance is at 1.4159 and today’s highs near 1.4190.  Above there, horizontal resistance is at 1.4189.

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

The Pound has been range-trading vs both the Euro and the US Dollar.  However, if negotiations between the EU and UK over the NI protocol don’t end soon, the Pound may fall even further, causing GBP to break out its ranges.

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