UK Govt Position Paper Seeks Fresh EU Customs Tie Post-Brexit

     LONDON (MNI) - The UK Government on Tuesday published a position paper,

outlining how it sees a future Customs Union with the European Union.

     The paper puts forward two models and suggests that post-Brexit, customs

checks would not be required at any UK/EU border. The approaches would be

"innovative and untested," the paper says.

     The first position envisages a "highly streamlined customs arrangement",

that would simplify and streamline requirements.

     The second would involve a new customs partnership between the UK and the

EU, in a way that "removes the need for a UK-EU customs border."

     "As we leave the EU and therefor the EU Customs Union, the Government seeks

a new customs arrangement that facilitates the freest and most frictionless

trade possible in goods between the UK and the EU and allows us to forge new

trade relationships with our partners in Europe and around the world," the paper

said.

     The UK government said it will continue discussions with business partners

and other stakeholders in the UK ahead of publishing a Customs White Paper later

in the summer. A Customs Bill will be published in the autumn, the position

paper suggested. 

     The Government said a further position paper, relating to Northern Ireland,

would be published "shortly".

     Speaking earlier Tuesday, David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the

European Union, said any system would be "as close as we can to the current

arrangements".

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

--MNI Paris Bureau; tel: +33 1-42-71-55-41; email: jack.duffy@marketnews.com

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