Policy briefing: Brexit and EU negotiations

Resolving the challenges of implementing the Northern Ireland protocol remains critical to business while the UK and EU continue to engage with each other’s proposals

The government will continue its talks with the EU in the coming weeks after talks re-opened on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Despite the EU working constructively with the UK on their proposals, sticking points remain. Among these suggestions, the EU agreed to reduce the amount of certification needed to move lorries between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; legislate for the easy flow of medicine across the Irish Sea; and formalise the involvement of business in the Protocol going forward.

The key areas of tension from the UK government are over the continued jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the existence of customs checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If agreement between the UK and EU is not found, the UK government could potentially trigger Article 16 of the Protocol. This could lead to a further escalation of tension between the two parties and potential retaliatory measures with increased customs checks or tariffs. If the Article were to be triggered, it would send a signal from the UK government that joint compromise is not felt to be possible and that the Protocol is not sustainable as it currently stands.

The resolution of these issues is seen as crucial in making progress on other issues in the UK’s future trade relations with the EU such as financial services, energy, and bilateral agreements on business mobility. The CBI is emphasising the need for collaboration from both sides. The fact that both the UK and EU have taken pro-active steps to understand the concerns of business is a major step forward to ensure that sustainable long-term solutions can be found.

The Department of International Trade launches Export Support Service to support businesses export to Europe

Companies in the UK exporting goods to Europe can now access a new government service. The export support service has recently been launched to act as a one-stop-shop for UK businesses looking to export to new markets or understand the current rules on paperwork and how they differ country-to-country.

The CBI is interested to know how members have used the new service and whether they find it useful for their business needs, if businesses have used the new service and have any feedback please get in touch.

The UK Government are launching European Trade Month

The Department of International Trade are hosting European Trade Month with a number of online events on doing business with and exporting to different regions in the EU and Europe.

The Cabinet Office is also running a number of Industry Days, with events providing practical details about moving goods between the EU and GB, with upcoming events focusing on Southern Europe, Central Europe, and France.