Both the UK and the EU have said that they would like to see a pragmatic solution to the SPS border checks issue in NI.
But it seems to me that they interpret "pragmatic" differently.
/1
For the UK it seems to be all about flexibility and finding a solution that's proportionate to the risk.
There is a bit of a "let's just get on with it" attitude and frustration with the EU's insistence on sticking to pre-defined terms and rules.
/2
The UK seems to struggle with the fact that the EU is not necessarily willing to go beyond existing frameworks and solutions.
/3
The EU is understandably a bit concerned about being "creative" in the way it applies international trade rules. It can create a precedent. Therefore the solution has to be based on the existing interpretation of the rules, common practice etc.
/4
The EU might, with good reason, be concerned that offering the UK conditions that go well beyond what it offered other partners (in terms of what they ask for in return) might have far-reaching consequences.
I don't think the UK is thinking that far ahead.
/5
But I have not seen the UK's proposal and don't know the details. Just basing this on the UK's overall approach to negotiations and technical challenges to date.
6/6
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Indeed ROI would be "paying the price" for ensuring there is no border between north and south.
I'm not sure what the tangible impact would be on trade between ROI/EU but any costs and delays would now be for the EU MS to absorb. Significant transfer of responsibility here.
/2
And difficult to imagine this being introduced without any further consequences for the UK as it would normalise UK's unwillingness to implement the Protocol. A document the UK:
✅negotiated,
✅signed and
✅promoted domestically as a massive success.
/3
Turns out the supplementary customs declarations due this month (from this month onwards) are also a problem for the customs industry. Risk of a backlog.
/1
Traders unprepared and often unaware of the obligations.
Brokers lack capacity, often don't communicate with traders due to lack of time. Or they wrongly assume that traders know what's required.
/2
You need special authorisation to be able to submit these supplementary declarations and not every broker has one. The application process is complex.
/3
So I have a feeling many companies are in for a rude awakening this month - the first round of supplementary customs declarations for companies importing from the EU
/1
Thanks to the UK Gov's easements there was an option to defer customs declarations for the first 6 months and submit the bare minimum of data at the time of import (usually done by the carrier, logistics provider)
/2
This was to be followed by a full, supplementary declaration up to 175 days later.
While I have often said that I don't believe the pandemic will significantly shift supply chains (which are formed as a response to costs, availability, taxes and a number of other factors) I was thinking it's likely to impact the approach to inventory management.
/2
The authors are equally sceptical about "supply chain resilience" but go even further when it comes to assessing the likelihood of impact on the type of inventory management - expanding storage space and increasing your inventory costs money.