Thread by @CoppetainPU

Remember the deadlock in the WTO over splitting the UK's and EU's commitments on tariff quotas (explained here👇🏽)?

The deadlock continues, with further comments today in the WTO Goods Council, from a number of countries.

1/5

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/hap…

Delegations are said to have repeated their concerns that the UK's & EU's method for splitting the quotas after Brexit reduced the economic value of the present EU28 quotas.

Australia reportedly said that three delays to Brexit added to the uncertainty facing its exporters

2/5

Also queried was the impact of UK-EU trade since proposed splits don't take it into account (an issue that arises if tariffs are raised on trade between the two eg in a "no deal" Brexit).

The US reportedly said this would "crowded out" other countries from the tariff quotas

3/5

The EU, which also speaks on behalf of the UK, said the aim was for an orderly UK withdrawal, and that it has published information to reduce uncertainty.

(A possibility is that the UK and EU will go ahead with the uncertified tariff quotas anyway and risk legal challenge.)

4/5

Sources say the countries that expressed concern in the meeting were: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, SKorea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, Uruguay, US.

(Also raised today were concerns from 19 countries about new EU pesticide regulations)

5/5

Here are some media stories on this

1.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1195250131056152576?s=19

And another. Note that @andrewwalker167's for the BBC includes a complaint from Brazil that Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland might violate WTO rules

2.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1195265305137815552?s=19

@andrewwalker167 And a third.

3. theguardian.com/politics/2019/…

@andrewwalker167 And a fourth. This one by @ChrisHorseman2

4.

https://twitter.com/BorderlexEditor/status/1196108607915462656?s=20

@andrewwalker167 @ChrisHorseman2 And finally, here, just published, is the official version on the WTO website.

“Members press EU and UK to address concerns of reduced market access following Brexit”

wto.org/english/news_e…