,
7 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
Government today acknowledged publicly a few weeks before the event what Sky News #brexitforensics revealed 11 months ago, and was the subject of numerous gagging orders on business - that they will not be able to enforce No Deal customs controls on 29.3 because they can’t.
Here’s the video report from last year on what the industry called the “throwing open the borders” solution in a No Deal situation... simply not enforcing at the border checks
Insiders say there aren’t the agents, staff, checking areas to be able to enforce changes at border. Firms will instead have to register for a new system & volunteer info later, but won’t be checked on way in for 12 months. Some doubts that new customs system will be ready too
No Deal notice from today on prioritising flow over revenue...key now is extent reciprocated - ie will EU prioritise fluid flow of trade, or its Single Market/customs union rules to 3rd country. 100 lorry-checking facility being constructed at Coquelles.
gov.uk/guidance/movin…
gov.uk/guidance/movin…
Also for the period of this “easement” it fundamentally alters the “they sell more to us/German cars/Prosecco” argument - it is difficult to see how UK would enforce any No Deal tariffs on EU imports. They would be waved through without controls at the border....
And that’s before the WTO rules about whether we would even be allowed to enforce differential tariffs...
Bigger point though. If EU enforced legally applicable No Deal tariffs on UK exports, what would it could UK do with no customs controls at ports?
Bigger point though. If EU enforced legally applicable No Deal tariffs on UK exports, what would it could UK do with no customs controls at ports?
Here @Stone_SkyNews visited the French side of the Chunnel where they are building that customs / food and animal checks facility for 29.3
