A post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the European Union must made by October "at the latest”, the EU has warned.
A spokesman for the EU Commission said that while the EU wants an "ambitious and fair partnership with the UK", a deal must be achieved by the end of October in order for it to be ratified in time.
On Monday a Downing Street spokesman said the Government is confident a deal will be made in September.
The comments came before negotiations between the UK and the EU are set to resume on Tuesday evening until Friday.
Speaking about the EU's hope that a deal can be achieved, an EU Commission spokesman said: “The important thing to note – and I would point you first of all back to what Michel Barnier himself said in London at the end of the last round of negotiations – that, first of all, we want a deal, we want to have an ambitious and fair partnership with the UK, and that we must come to an agreement in October at the latest.”
He added: “This week and over the coming weeks we will remain constructive, we will remain engaged and respectful with the UK negotiating team in order to reach a deal.”
Earlier this week, a No 10 spokesman said UK negotiators “will continue to plug the gaps where any differences remain”.
He added: “There are many issues that will be discussed during this week’s round, not least level playing field, fisheries, trading goods and services, amongst others.”
After the last round of negotiations in London last month, both sides admitted they were not yet close to a trade agreement.
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said at the time that a deal looked “at this point unlikely”. The two sides had disagreed over fishing rights and and competition rules.
Mr Barnier said the UK had not shown a “willingness to break the deadlock” on either of these topics.
He said there was a risk of no deal being made, saying these issues were "at the heart" of the EU's trade interests.
They would need to make a deal by October "at the latest" so it could be ratified before the post-Brexit transition period - which the UK has ruled out extending - ends in December, he added.
His UK counterpart David Frost also said there were “considerable gaps” in these areas. However, he contended that a deal was still possible.
Best for Britain chief executive Naomi Smith said: “The Government promised to deliver Brexit to ‘unleash the potential of our whole country’.
“But without a comprehensive trade deal with the EU, potentially irreparable damage will be done to our economy by the double impact of coronavirus and Brexit.
“The October deadline set by the EU means the clock is truly ticking on our Government to reach a deal that ensures jobs and businesses that survived the first wave of coronavirus aren’t lost at the turn of the year.”
Additional reporting by PA media