On 22 March 2019, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced further details of measures to support businesses with new customs requirements, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. HMRC is extending arrangements already announced for traders to use Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) which will make importing easier. This includes:
On 22 March 2019, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced further details of measures to support businesses with new customs requirements, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. HMRC is extending arrangements already announced for traders to use Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) which will make importing easier. This includes:
By letter of 20 March 2019, the United Kingdom submitted a request for an extension of the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU until 30 June 2019, with a view to finalising the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement. On 21 March 2019, the European Council announced that it had agreed to an extension on the United Kingdom (UK) withdrawing from the EU until 22 May 2019, provided the Withdrawal Agreement is approved by the House of Commons by 29 March 2019 at the latest.
On 14 March 2019, the UK Parliament voted to postpone the UK’s departure from the European Union. However, it will be up to the European Union’s council, which meets next week to decide whether it will agree with the request. Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said European leaders should be “open to a long extension” of Britain’s membership.
The European Commission has opened a consultation with stakeholders relating to regulatory cooperation activities with the United States as a follow up to the 25 July 2018 meeting between the President of the US and the President of the European Commission. An interim progress report was published on 30 January, providing a detailed overview on the state of the work of the Executive Working Group, which was formed after the July meeting, and lists a number of concrete actions where regulatory cooperation can facilitate transatlantic trade such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cybersecurity, by lowering regulatory barriers. Similar progress reports will be published at regular intervals as the discussions with the US progress. Stakeholder input will be instrumental to making progress and identify solutions that allow us to facilitate trade while maintaining, if not enhancing, levels of regulatory protection.
On 12 March 2019. the House of Commons voted 391 to 242 against approval of the Brexit deal worked out between Prime Minister May and the European Union. With the Brexit date currently set at 29 March, the House of Commons has scheduled two vote additional votes. On Wednesday, 13 March, they will vote to leave the European Union without any deal (“no-deal” Brexit), which is expected to be defeated. On Thursday, they will vote…
On 21 February, 2019, the Department for International Trade (DIT) issued guidance entitled, Existing trade agreements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, which sets out the status of those agreements (free trade agreements, economic partnership agreements, association agreements and customs union) that may not be in place by exit day. It also links to trade agreements that have been signed and mutual recognition agreements that have been signed.
As part of the UK government’s planning for a No Deal Brexit, the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) has published an open general export licence (“OGEL”), allowing the export of dual-use items (with both a civilian and military application) from the UK to EU Member States and the Channel Islands (full licence here). The OGEL will come into force at 11pm on 29 March 2019 if the UK leaves the EU on that date without a deal or a transition period for its withdrawal.
On 31 January 2019, the Department for International Trade announced that the Trade Policy Minister, George Hollingbery, signed the trade continuity agreement in London with a number of representative governments. A continuity agreement will see British businesses and consumers benefitting from continued trade with Eastern and Southern Africa after the UK leaves the European Union.
On 30 January 2019, the Department of International Trade announced the signing of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Chile (UK-Chile Agreement), a trade continuity agreement between Chile and the UK. The UK-Chile agreement will insure that each countries’ goods will continue to benefit from preferential trading arrangements after the UK exits the EU on 29 March 2019, or after an implementation period, if UK-EU negotiations are successful. The UK expects to sign a number of other agreements due to be agreed in the coming weeks. The announcement said: