1/ As with almost everything else where politician's announcements on trade and Brexit are concerned, the appropriate response isn't panic but, "What the hell does that even mean?"
2/ EU regulations can be thought of in two broad categories:
- Rules that impact whether a product or service can be sold in the EU
- Rules that determine how that product or service would be produced if it were made in the EU
They're not the same thing.
- Rules that impact whether a product or service can be sold in the EU
- Rules that determine how that product or service would be produced if it were made in the EU
They're not the same thing.
3/ For example, the EU might have rules about the fuel efficiency of any car sold there, but also rules about labour rights for automotive workers.
Factories abroad have to align with the former to sell into the EU, but (unless they committed to in a trade deal) not the latter.
Factories abroad have to align with the former to sell into the EU, but (unless they committed to in a trade deal) not the latter.
4/ 'Alignment' on its own is not enough by the way.
In Services for example, the UK could voluntarily align with every EU rule and standard... It still won't have the right to sell insurance to those on the continent unless the EU permits it (which they are not obliged to do).
In Services for example, the UK could voluntarily align with every EU rule and standard... It still won't have the right to sell insurance to those on the continent unless the EU permits it (which they are not obliged to do).
5/ In Goods alignment is also just part of the story.
Even if you adopt all EU rules unilaterally, the EU still gets to determine what (potentially costly) tests and evidence it needs to see before it accepts a consignment as EU safe.
That's conformity assessment.
Even if you adopt all EU rules unilaterally, the EU still gets to determine what (potentially costly) tests and evidence it needs to see before it accepts a consignment as EU safe.
That's conformity assessment.
6/ "Alignment" too is a complex concept.
It can mean unilateral adoption.
It can mean an agreement not to lower standards from where they as tree now.
It can mean an agreement to replicate EU rules in the UK as they're made.
It can mean unilateral adoption.
It can mean an agreement not to lower standards from where they as tree now.
It can mean an agreement to replicate EU rules in the UK as they're made.
7/ Some of those models, if they come with mutual recognition of one another's standards and regulations as "good enough" require the creation of mechanisms for transparency, mutual monitoring and dispute resolution.
8/ For example if the EU and UK agree to keeping their animal welfare regimes in alignment, how do they keep tabs on how one another are actually treating animals and settle arguments about it?
9/ A politician swearing off alignment could mean any of the elements above.
The less you align with the EU by treaty, the more onerous it's likely to be for UK businesses to prove their products do, and the more reluctant the EU may prove to provide goods and services access.
The less you align with the EU by treaty, the more onerous it's likely to be for UK businesses to prove their products do, and the more reluctant the EU may prove to provide goods and services access.
