UK lays out tariff plans for no-deal Brexit

Brexit | | MIC Customs Solutions |

The government has laid out some of its plans for a no-deal Brexit.


Officials in the UK have revealed the plans for tariffs that would come into effect under a no-deal Brexit as the deadline of March 29th 2019 draws closer.

It was confirmed that there would be a full-scale liberalisation of 87 per cent of import duties, while protections would remain in place for certain industries.

Under the plans, a 10.6 per cent tariff would be applied to the cost of 'fully finished' cars imported from the EU, while there would also be an increase in prices of beef, chicken and pork coming from the continent to Britain.

These tariffs would only apply for 12 months after a no-deal Brexit while the government consulted on a new, permanent approach, but they would apply to all countries with which the UK does not have its own free trade deals, including nations in the EU.

The government stressed that the majority of goods would still be able to arrive tariff-free, including aluminium, steel, paper and wood products.

However, tariffs would apply to ceramics, fertiliser and fuel, as well as automobiles and meat.

The information also laid out plans for Ireland, confirming there would be no checks or customs declarations at the Irish border should a no-deal Brexit occur.

There would be new checks away from the border, though, which would involve the establishment of a 'designated entry point' where animals and animal products coming from outside the EU would require certification and pre-notification prior to their entry into the UK.

Import requirements would also be added to a "very limited" set of goods such as hazardous chemicals, the government said.

Director-general of the Confederation of British Industry Carolyn Fairburn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we potentially are going to see is this imposition of new terms of trade at the same time as business is blocked out of its closest trading partner. This is a sledgehammer for our economy."

The news comes after Theresa May's administration suffered yet another defeat in parliament over its main EU separation plan.

MPs will now vote this evening (March 13th 2019) on whether to reject a no-deal Brexit. If this is the case, then there may be a further vote tomorrow on whether a delay on an exit from the EU should be requested.