I have stumbled across some information signalling that EU will agree to allow Northern Irish companies and consumers to continue benefiting from imports under EU free trade agreements (as well as UK free trade agreements). No news on exports.
But points to some good progress being made in joint committee negotiations. And I like good news.
In practical terms, if this comes into effect, would mean NI importers could still benefit from the EU FTAs UK hasn’t rolled over. It also means they wouldn’t have to demonstrate import remaining in Northern Ireland (as is case when using UK FTAs).
Best of both worlds klaxon.
At least that’s my reading - but I really must emphasise that I have been up since 0430 in the morning and my judgement is not to be trusted.
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Would be keen to know which of labour and environmental protections covered by LPF it is the UK would like to scrap. Because I suspect the answer is actually none of them.
(i) fundamental rights at work,
(ii) occupational health and safety standards,
(iii) fair working conditions and employment standards, and
(iv) information and consultation rights at company level, and
(v) restructuring.
How about these?
i) access to environmental information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters; (ii) environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment; (iii) industrial emissions
Once the transition ends, trade deal or no trade deal, there is going to be lots of accidental business illegality. A lot will be riding on how forgiving/accommodating, or not, the enforcement environment is.
For context, following the Brexit vote quite a few banks reviewed existing process and found out that even within EU they were not exactly always complying with the rules ...
So a scenario: no data adequacy; company still hosts EU personal data on server in UK without contractual cover. What are the consequences? What steps do the regulators take? Heavy handed or give more time to adjust?
Is it time to have the long and boring discussion about the difference between standards and processes & production methods?
Trade policy tends to focus on outcomes (standards). So for imported food to be sold on the UK market it needs to be made to UK [or sometimes equivalent] standards.
Trade policy doesn't tend to deal with how (processes & production) the food is made e.g. how cows were treated.
But this is changing somewhat. The EU-Mercosur trade deal opens a tariff-rate quota exclusively for shell eggs birthed (?) from chickens subject to animal welfare conditions equivalent to the EU's.
Today's publication of the border operating model an explicit acknowledgement that exiting the EU's customs union and single market will create additional costs for British businesses trading with the EU.
Positively, this means we no longer have to discuss blockchain enabled zeppelins and "GATT 24", and can focus on preparing for the rupture at the end of the year.
For imports, customs controls are being phased in in two stages. From Jan 1st, importers from EU will have to decide whether to
- declare imports & pay duties as would from RoW; or
- take advantage of scheme allowing deferral of declarations and payment of duties for 6 months
Many people, including me, believe that similar measures (allowing for CE marked goods to continue to be accepted in the UK) will be reintroduced. This is because businesses are simply not prepared for the switch, and there is still no real clarity on the replacement.