UK proposed EU “temporary customs Union” on the transition period after Brexit. This is stated in the document outlining the government’s position, which has not yet been published officially, writes the BBC.
The countries of the customs Union do not levy duties (taxes on exports and imports) suppliers of goods and services on the territory of all countries of the Union. They also equalize the tariffs on goods and services imported from outside the Union or exported beyond it.
At the weekend in a joint article Finance Minister Philip Hammond and Minister for trade Liam Fox, considered the antipodes in the question of how far should go the process of withdrawal of Britain from the European Union institutions, said that the EU customs Union country will eventually leave.
However, in the new document, the government says that Britain will be offered from March 2019 when completing negotiations on Brexit, set “temporary customs Union”. Through this Union, EU trade will continue on the same terms, but London will be able to begin trade negotiations with countries outside the EU, for now, remaining a member of the EU, he has no right.
At the end of the period of the temporary customs Union by mutual agreement or will be installed, a new customs border with the EU — while the UK government has emphasized that strive to simplify the clearance, between the sides will signed a new “partnership” without customs borders. So say in the government business after Brexit will have to adapt to the new conditions only once.
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None of this has not been discussed with the EU. At the insistence of the Brussels negotiations in may started with questions related to the exit from the EU — such as the situation of EU citizens in Britain and Britons in the EU or the mutual financial obligations of the parties.
Only when the EU considers that on these issues, significant progress has been made, you can begin to discuss future relations between Britain and the EU after Brexit. The British government hopes to reach this threshold in autumn.
Offer temporary customs Union is an attempt of the British side to discuss a new relationship after Brexit earlier than desired by Brussels.
Recall that the decision to withdraw from the EU, the British adopted by referendum on 23 June 2016. March 29, 2017 officially start the process of withdrawal from the Commonwealth. According to the rules set forth in the 50th article of the Lisbon Treaty, leaving the EU, Britain should leave the Union on March 29, 2019 — exactly two years after the launch of the Brexit.
