I've been trying to find an answer to a question about trade in goods between Northern Ireland & the Republic under the new version of the protocol (backstop/frontstop).
The focus has been on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and how customs is arranged.
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The focus has been on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and how customs is arranged.
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If the UK & EU cannot agree on a free trade agreement (aka "no deal") and since there are no customs procedures for the Irish border:
1. What happens to butter made in Northern Ireland and sold in the Republic? It's essentially duty-free even though the EU has a high tariff
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1. What happens to butter made in Northern Ireland and sold in the Republic? It's essentially duty-free even though the EU has a high tariff
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2. What happens to butter made in the Republic and sold in Northern Ireland? Similarly it escapes the UK tariff of €60.5 or €73.8 per 100kg.
3. What happens to French butter shipped to Northern Ireland via Dublin? No duty charged either?
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3. What happens to French butter shipped to Northern Ireland via Dublin? No duty charged either?
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This would seem to create a free trade area on the island of Ireland (at least) without being a proper free trade agreement under WTO rules (GATT Art.24).
Surely it would a violation of non-discrimination (GATT Art1, MFN) in the absence of a formal free trade agreement?
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Surely it would a violation of non-discrimination (GATT Art1, MFN) in the absence of a formal free trade agreement?
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