Brexit and trade in goods

Although there is a lot of uncertainty about Brexit there are many key changes that will apply in most circumstances, other than a complete reversal of Brexit. They would apply in the event of a hard Brexit on 31st October 2019.

Equally most such changes would also apply at the date of a soft Brexit pursuant to a withdrawal agreement whether at the end of the proposed transition period or an extended transition period or some other substituted transition period under another agreement that is acceptable to Parliament and the EU.

A comprehensive free trade agreement with zero tariffs on all goods and minimum barriers as promised under the future relationship declaration will not lead to frictionless trade. The UK has indicated that it does not wish to be part of the EU customs territory as this would preclude it from maintaining an independent trade policy in relation to the rest of the world.

Trade policy is the terms on which countries deal with each other and is largely defined in the country’s’ tariff, in the EU case, by the EU common customs tariff. It applies not just to tariffs but to other trading policy issues such as quotas, sanctions and trade defence measures, licensing requirements, preferences. It reflects the terms of all the trade agreements entered with third countries and the preferences granted under each.

The UK wishes as an essential part of Brexit to be able to enter its own free-trade agreements with third countries. This means a different trade policy

Regardless of whether there is a full free-trade agreement between the UK and the EU with zero tariffs in all or nearly all goods, customs checks and procedures will still be required. They will be nearly as burdensome as in the event of a hard Brexit Customs exports have said that because.