Brexit White Paper reflects evidence that the CBI has been highlighting since the Referendum

In July 2018, the government released its Brexit white paper, outlining the most detailed negotiating position to date. It featured a number of significant proposals and ambitions in line with CBI asks on frictionless trade and the free flow of data, marking progress in a time of uncertainty. However, as this analysis shows, there are gaps in these proposals and more detail is needed on EU VAT, some services sectors and the new customs system.

As this analysis concludes, many of the intentions are reassuring: a free trade area for goods and a common rule book will go a long way to achieving the frictionless trade that UK and EU businesses have been asking for. The proposals to maintain free-flowing data, the mutual recognition of qualifications and mobility for skilled workers are positive and reassuring signals for business, and are all areas the CBI has been championing in our lobbying efforts since the referendum.

But, as highlighted in this analysis, far more detail is needed on the future of services trade, which is deeply intertwined with goods trade, but also on VAT and the new Facilitated Customs Arrangement model.

Read the complete business view of the government's Brexit white paper below.