The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator issued the warning as he went head to head with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a Brexit trade battle. Just days after the UK left the EU, Mr Johnson and Michel Barnier set out competing visions of the future relationship on Monday.

Major stumbling blocks are already obvious with battles over fishing and the application of a “level playing field” on issues including state subsidies, environmental standards and workers’ rights.

The Prime Minister insisted there was “no need” to abide by EU rules and said that British fishing grounds are “first and foremost” for UK boats.

But Mr Barnier hit back saying allowing European trawlers into British waters was “inextricably linked” to securing a trade deal.

He also pointed to the joint Political Declaration, agreed with Mr Johnson, which committed the UK to”robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”.

Shortly before Mr Johnson spoke, the EU set out its draft negotiating mandate, calling for “reciprocal access” for fishing vessels, and stating that a free trade area with no tariffs or quotas was contingent on a “level playing field ensured through robust commitments”.

Mr Barnier told reporters in Brussels: “It’s clear that the agreement that we wish to have in the interests of UK fishermen and in the interests of European fishermen – I call that reciprocal access to our territorial waters and our markets – that agreement on fisheries will be inextricably linked to the trade agreement, as indeed will be… the agreement on the level playing field agreed with Boris Johnson.”

He said that “where there’s a will, there’s a way” to reach a deal.

But he added: ”But we are constrained by the decision, if it’s confirmed, the decision of Boris Johnson to leave the single market and the customs union at the end of this year.”

Mr Barnier, who said he had a “very direct and frank relationship” with the Prime Minister, suggested it would not be possible to complete the whole deal within eleven months.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added: “It’s now time to get down to work. Time is short.

“We will negotiate in a fair and transparent manner, but we will defend EU interests, and the interests of our citizens, right until the end.

“It’s all outlined in the political declaration already and everything is negotiated when everything is negotiated. So fish and financial services and energy, you name it, all has to be done before we sign.”

Mr Johnson used a speech in Greenwich, south-east London, to stress his commitment to free trade – and signal his determination to secure an arrangement with Brussels along the lines of that agreed between the EU and Canada.

He said: ”There is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policies, subsidies, social protection, the environment or anything similar, any more than the EU should be obliged to accept UK rules.

“The UK will maintain the highest standards in these areas, better in many respects than those of the EU, without the compulsion of a treaty.”

Mr Johnson confirmed that if a Canada-style agreement was not possible, he would be prepared to walk away without a full trade deal, like Australia’s relationship with the EU.

He added: ”The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada’s or more like Australia’s and I have no doubt that in either case the UK will prosper mightily.”

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