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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
, 5 tweets, 3 min read Read on Twitter
This is quite some opus from @GregHands and raises a huge number of valid questions about a Customs Union worthy of discussion (anyone want to organise?) but I'm just going to focus in on a handful, plus the one that isn't asked - the alternatives...
Halfway through, this on Turkey is really important. Turkey signs up to industrial goods regulations from the EU, and in return gets free flow of among other things cars. Which given the size of the UK (and Turkey) car industry is a significant gain
A Customs Union will have to be negotiated, for example whether to include agriculture, or in this case, the extent of the say we get. Ahead of negotiations it is hard to say what the exact set-up will be. But our influence won't be huge compared to now.
The big question though - what's the alternative given what we know about the Irish border, the desire for strong trade links, and the problems that no-deal brings? To repeat, there is no perfect pain-free solution, so is a Customs Union worse than alternatives?
My own article from a few months ago included these two paragraphs which summed things up after a visit to Turkey. Can we negotiate a 'good' Customs Union? Or what else? On to the indicative vote debate... ukandeu.ac.uk/what-turkeys-c…
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Story by @Annaisaac (telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/…) that members of the DIT Strategic Trade Advisory Group must sign non-disclosure agreements reflects to me continued confusion of this Government about negotiation secrecy and stakeholder participation
This group's principal purpose according to DIT is to advise the government on trade policy, so for example perhaps considering different approaches to liberalising services trade. Nothing there that should require NDAs, in fact would be best if members could consult with others
There are obvious areas in trade policy where information is secret, such as specific negotiating priorities. Frankly I'd be surprised if these were shared with the group, and if they were many other organisations would rightly feel left out
Read 8 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Reposting this from last night about a Customs Union as the point seems to have escaped a lot of folk, some of whom should know better.
In particular a typical anti-EU polemic from Larry Elliott. He points out we have a big trade deficit with the EU on cars and food and drink. He doesn't say they're also the UK's two biggest manufacturing sectors, and what would happen outside a CU. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Once again, there is no evidence any other country is better at negotiating trade in services agreements than the EU. And if we negotiated our own deals would we be willing to sacrifice industry for financial services?
Read 4 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
I hadn't previously registered Vernon Bogdanor as an expert in Customs Unions, and on the basis of this letter he isn't. Once again you have to question the role of the media including the likes of FT and BBC in spreading inaccuracies
Various experts including @AnnaJerzewska and @DmitryOpines have proper Customs Union threads and articles but the big point to know is that the details would have to be negotiated and that would take time - years
Until negotiated a Customs Union is neither the worst or best deal the UK could have with the EU, it is just another aspiration for the future. We can guess some of it, but dismissing or lauding it just continues the immature UK Brexit debate
Read 3 tweets

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Dr Anna Jerzewska
@AnnaJerzewska
1/ Another customs thread. This time on #customs formalities and #Backstop . Backstop envisages a #customsunion with simplifications. It mentions that a movement certificate, A.UK, will be required. No mention of customs declarations.
2/ Movement certificate demonstrates that goods are eligible for trade under a customs union. Is certified by e.g. a Chamber of Commerce. Declarations do more than that. They are entered into the national customs system and enable customs authorities to collect customs data.
3/ Much more info on a declaration than on a movement cert. Some of the most important fields include commodity code, value of goods, country of origin and customs procedure. Would imagine the UK would still like to collect this data for various reasons even under backstop.
Read 9 tweets
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Dr Anna Jerzewska
@AnnaJerzewska
On #customs formalities and documentation under various #Brexit scenarios. Procedures and documentation required for customs clearance can be confusing. Particularly, the difference between a single market and a customs union seems to be unclear. /1
Under different Brexit scenarios there will be different customs formalities and supporting documentation traders will need to complete/ provide for customs clearance (from an upcoming blogpost): /2
This is a simplified view - additional formalities are required depending on the type of goods (e.g. agricultural, excise) and other supporting documentation may be needed (e.g. licenses, certificates, value declaration, insurance docs, tariff quota docs etc). /3
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Christine Pelosi
@sfpelosi
Outtakes from the #DNC Executive Meeting in #PuertoRico (thread)

Chair promises a 2020 process that is fair. Will release a protocol on debates soon; expect debates in summer 2019 . Will decide by March 2019 the Host City for 2020 Convention: Houston, Miami Beach, or Milwaukee.
We have worked hard to rebuild trust on our presidential process. Rules and Bylaws Cttee working with early states on rules. A key rule change ends superdelegates voting 1st round absent consensus candidate BUT elected officials can still be PLEOs & not run against constituents.
The PLEO Party Leader Elected Official designation is for pledged delegates who are Members of Congress Governors etc who want a first round #DNC convention vote but don’t want to run against activist to get there.
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Penny Midas Rollo
@PennyMidasRollo
001/ [article content in this tweet series 001-180 reproduced with permission from Martin Howe QC of Lawyers for Britain @lawyers4britain]
#quote "Leaving the EU on WTO terms: pulling down the barriers to world trade
Introduction: why prices will FALL after Brexit, not rise" /002
002/ #quote "Over the past couple of weeks, the media have been full of lurid scare stories about what will happen if the UK leaves the EU on WTO terms, because negotiations with the EU do not result in a withdrawal agreement." /003
#tariffs #NoDeal #Brexit #WTO #ProjectFear #shortages #food #medicines
003/ #quote "One of the most ridiculous and UNJUSTIFIED of these absurd scare stories is that it will lead to higher prices, and even shortages, of foods and medicines." /004
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Peter Foster
@pmdfoster
Some very breathless reporting/reading of @MichelBarnier remarks y'day. So what is happening on #Brexit? Some thoughts on talking with both sides. 1/Thread
@MichelBarnier First Barnier. To be clear, it was absolutely orthodox. We respect UK red lines, but within those limits will give UK broadest ever FTA and Association Agreement. It's EXACTLY what he said on Aug 2 OpEd: "unprecedented in scope and depth." /2

ec.europa.eu/commission/new…
@MichelBarnier So why all the huffing and puffing, the sudden optimism about EU willingness and desire to cut a deal?

Well first, it's important to focus on what that 'deal' is in Oct/Nov - it's the withdrawal agreement.

Money. Citizens. Northern Ireland backstop. NOT Chequers. /2
Read 18 tweets
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Alberto Nardelli
@AlbertoNardelli
A short thread. There are valid arguments for a customs union with the EU, and there are valid arguments against one. However, wherever you sit on this debate, everyone should agree that MPs, MEPs or commentators being deceitful with the British public is appalling
I spoke to Swiss customs today. This is what they told me:

- there are 16 customs stations on the border
- about 24,000 lorries cross the border each day
- most for a short time, but *every* lorry has to stop for customs declarations
The Swiss Federal Customs Administration even sent me photos. You can see quite clearly what looks a lot like the "physical infrastructure" that the UK and the EU don't want to see in Northern Ireland
Read 5 tweets

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