Britain clinched a narrow Brexit trade deal with the European Union on Thursday.

Reaching a trade deal by then would ensure there are no tariffs and trade quotas on goods exported or imported by the two sides.

The meeting was authorized by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart, David Frost, agreed Friday to ``pause'' negotiations while they brief political leaders.

As talks continued between the two sides in London, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ``I think we are into the last week or so of substantive negotiations.''

The announcement of the plans has contributed to concerns Britain could be cast out of the European Union's single market with no agreement on trade.

Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31 but talks on new trade terms have made little headway as the clock ticks down to an October deadline.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News that Britain will seek a deal that imposes very few tariffs even though he said Britain will not seek to align its regulations with the EU.