CBI responds to Future Partnership Papers - Customs Union

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:

“Companies will welcome the progress Government has made today in publishing these papers.  Over the past year, businesses have been providing policymakers with the evidence, ideas and solutions to make a success of Brexit. 

“So it’s encouraging to see that these papers propose a time-limited interim period and a customs system that is as barrier-free as possible.  

“We at the CBI have always been clear that new ideas on crucial issues like this should be brought to the table quickly.  But the clock is ticking and what matters now is giving companies the confidence to continue investing as quickly as possible.”

On customs, Josh said:

“Business wants to see as frictionless a customs system as possible, with a strong emphasis on digital systems that make it easier to trade.

“But to secure frictionless trade, negotiations on regulation, tariff and non-tariff barriers will have to take place.  All efforts should be made to deliver a single-step transition, so that businesses don’t have to adapt twice.”