Government trade proposals ‘are a start’

A new paper setting out proposals for a future customs relationship with the EU has been published by the government.

It outlines two broad approaches. The first is a streamlined customs agreement between the UK and the EU. This would aim to continue some existing arrangements reduce or remove barriers to trade through new deals and adopt technology-based solutions to make it easier for businesses to comply with customs procedures.

The other approach is for the UK to adopt a new partnership with the EU by aligning its approach to the customs border in a way that removes the need for a UK-EU border. This could entail the UK mirroring the EU’s requirements for imports from the rest of the world where the final destination is the EU.

The paper the first of several on the UK’s future relationship with the EU also sets out new...