Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #PlanAPlus
Most recents (3)
“Indicative votes” are a dreadful idea, apparently to force upon us what could not be achieved through the subterfuge of the Withdrawal Agreement: Customs Union (CU), against the Conservative manifesto
In any meaningful sense, Brexit would be lost
1/12
In any meaningful sense, Brexit would be lost
1/12
The excuse, free circulation of goods, is not achieved with *a* or *the* CU
*A* CU, requires movement certificates into the EU
In both *a* and *the* CU, all checks other than rules of origin are derived from the rules of the EU “single market” (SM)
2/12
*A* CU, requires movement certificates into the EU
In both *a* and *the* CU, all checks other than rules of origin are derived from the rules of the EU “single market” (SM)
2/12
So to get free circulation through CU, you need the SM too
That means no scope for domestic regulatory changes or independent trade policy: all countries will need us to have regulatory flexibility to do trade deals
3/12
That means no scope for domestic regulatory changes or independent trade policy: all countries will need us to have regulatory flexibility to do trade deals
3/12
Right then, with the warning that this is going to be a long thread, I'm going to try to distill the key points from the IEA #PlanAPlus report - which is typical of their work - lots of trade terms used questionably 1/ iea.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
So this is upfront, in the Executive Summary. Zero tariffs on agriculture we do not produce. It is unlikely to make a huge difference to prices, but could make a big difference to developing countries who currently have zero tariffs 2/ 
I interpret this to mean we should replace the 21 month transition period with a basic Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Zero tariffs would require us to determine optimal rules of origin for all products in 6 months. Not happening 3/
Ok, there are so many questionable / incorrect assertions in this IEA report it is hard to keep track. I'm going to summarise it as "more wishful thinking" for the time being iea.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
Well this is embarrassing. The IEA report calls for food standards to be lowered to join TPP and have a US trade deal. Liam Fox last week said this wouldn't happen...
Oh and another one, the report specifically proposes reducing the advantages given to developing countries, by reducing tariffs to zero for all countries (I'll do a detailed thread later, these are headlines)
