Confusing 24 hours trying to establish
- whether there will be checks or other frictions for GB-NI & NI-GB trade
- what checks
- who will be doing these checks
- where
- how they could change
contradictory answers from ministers and officials in different departments... THREAD
- whether there will be checks or other frictions for GB-NI & NI-GB trade
- what checks
- who will be doing these checks
- where
- how they could change
contradictory answers from ministers and officials in different departments... THREAD
At HA Committee, Border Force DG asked re West-East checks ie NI-GB said: “minimum amount of electronic information on movements from West to east, yet to be worked out in detail with EC, it needs to be worked out in Joint Committee process as to who will do those checks” 
.. but then he goes on to say “Not necessarily checks from west to east. Unfettered access for goods moving from NI. And from east to west, in order to protect regulatory zone within Ireland, then there will be declarations that have to be made.” /3
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f…
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f…
Home Sec asked about this at same session...about whether Border force will be involved NI-GB exit checks “situation depends on various circumstances” and “not going to speak about hypothetical situations” /4 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f…
they referred back to yesterday’s Treasury Sel Comm hearing with HMRC boss HArra. He said no checks unless to “implement prohibitions in intl law” eg a risk of trade in endangered species, only an administrative process, coming months work with EU to streamline and minimise /5
HArra was then pressed by @CatMcKinnell about how UK authorities would trace goods from EU single market or trade partners in Ireland being imported to GB, pay correct tariffs etc... “Nothing in WA that requires UK to put controls and checks or prevents controls and checks” /6
key legal issue here in Withdrawal Agreement is Article 6, while framed as business as usual for NI, clearly allows for some prohibitions and restrictions on exportation of goods within UK between NI & GB when “strictly required by any international obligations of the (EU)”
So there are two issues here... the EU law requirements for exit summary declarations, that possibly could be electronic formalities, but that is to be negotiated, but would be required to meet the EUs international obligations on endangered species, but perhaps WTO too? /7...
What’s point of having these declarations if not at some point to be checked in some way?... anyway then there’s a separate issue if a diverging GB provided incentives for smuggling of products from ROI/single market.. Officials clear that WA does not prevent option of checks /8
NEW: Home Sec has written to @CommonsHomeAffs to clarify the position on Irish Sea Border checks under the new Withdrawal Agreement protocol:
UQ now in Commons...
UQ now in Commons...
At precisely same time Brexit Sec says re NI-GB:
"there will be minimal, targeted interventions, designed to prevent, for example, trade in endangered species.."
Home Sec statement on NI-GB
“UK does not therefore intend to carry out checks there will be a minimal admin process.”
"there will be minimal, targeted interventions, designed to prevent, for example, trade in endangered species.."
Home Sec statement on NI-GB
“UK does not therefore intend to carry out checks there will be a minimal admin process.”
“Minimal targeted interventions” is not the same as “minimal administrative process...”
A targeted intervention, minimal or not, - is something done by the authorities, thats what BArclay has just said re NI-GB.
An admin process, minimal or not, is something that the trader/ haulier has to fill in. That’s what Home Sec statement at same time says.
An admin process, minimal or not, is something that the trader/ haulier has to fill in. That’s what Home Sec statement at same time says.
Brexit Sec tells Commons that the international obligations for which the WA deal will require new NI-GB processes aren’t just endangered species, but also for the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds.
But will they be checked? Or minimally intervened on in a targeted manner??
But will they be checked? Or minimally intervened on in a targeted manner??
Would be helpful for Barclay to give a list of the “international obligations” of the EU for which “prohibitions” and “restrictions” are allowed NI-GB under Article 6 of the WA.
Govt have said - endangered species, and conflict diamonds so far...
Govt have said - endangered species, and conflict diamonds so far...
Barclay makes the point that there is a mutual incentive to negotiate away or minimise these Irish Sea processes - consent mechanism after 4 years...
business source tells me that they told that “full export declaration would be required” NI-GB not just exit summary decl.
Can be done electronically, but this is what paper one looks like...if this proves to be right, that means traders/ agents not just hauliers need to fill in
Can be done electronically, but this is what paper one looks like...if this proves to be right, that means traders/ agents not just hauliers need to fill in
In any event EU has WAIVED requirement for exit summary declaration in cases of EU-Swiss and EU-Norway trade, between different customs territories and nations (because they’re aligned on standards)
UK Govt has accepted need for them within SAME nation/ alleged customs territory
UK Govt has accepted need for them within SAME nation/ alleged customs territory
Will there really be any form of checks on Northern Ireland "exports" within the UK? My attempt to bring all the confusing contradictory claims together. BLOG: bbc.co.uk/news/business-…
rest of thread is here..
separate thread on new checks going other way from GB-NI. Some already occur, as I discovered in old job, in Larne checking out cattle being checked off ships from Scotland... "does this cow have the answer to Brexit?" - turned out it did, for BJ at least
