At Tamebay we concern ourselves with trade and the ease with which merchants can sell within the UK, EU and the wider world. So we have watched with interest as the Brexit negotiations have progressed. And now we know what a future treaty will look like. If it is enacted.
It has taken 524 days of negotiations and finally today the British Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU’s other 27 heads of government have agreed a deal. That will now need to be approved by the Houses of Commons and Lords in the UK and also the European Parliament.
There is a 585-page withdrawal agreement, which will form the basis of a legally binding treaty in due course, and a 26-page political declaration that will determine future relations. Ratification will need to happen before Britain’s withdrawal on Friday the 29th March 2019.
The good news in it, regardless of what you think of other aspects of the draft agreement or how you voted, is that trade will most likely be unimpeded if it comes into force. There will be free movement over the British border in Ireland and also (it seems) free movement of goods between the UK and the EU. That means if you trade internationally and send to Europe it should be situation normal. There will be no tariffs or duties and, hopefully, no delays when sending goods to the EU.
What remains to be seen is whether there is additional paperwork when shipping as is currently the case between the EEA (European Economic Area) and the EU. The EEA includes Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.
It doesn’t need to be said but the next big challenge is whether this deal will get through the British parliament and what will happen if it doesn’t. Mrs May has reiterated the comments from EU officials noting that this is the best and only deal on the table. It seems that hard Brexit, leaving without an agreement, will most likely lead to a period of disruption.
4 Responses
It hasn’t a chance of passing through Parliament, so who knows what will happen next.
another few years of waffle and hot air
like it or not no ones going to move Europe soon,
so, we will need to deal with them ,
regardless of if were piddling in their pot ,or splashing our own boots
All the bluster by politicians here refusing to back the deal is the hardliners way of forcing the no deal brexit.
A few more weeks of arguing then the vote. Then a vote of no confidence in Theresa May so a leadership campaign starts in January.
With them all knowing she will win again but that takes another 6 weeks, then Ooops!!! wear at March and out with no deal.
Just a political game of tennis.
Slightly misleading article from Dan.
Free movement of goods will only be during the transitional period and following that customs will come in to play with the need for export and import declarations to be completed. So best not to think that everything will remain the same as longer term change is coming (assuming it all gets through Parliament of course).