The government is making crucial progress on the domestic
legislation needed for Brexit, taking forward the next two Brexit
Bills to Parliament.
The Trade Bill and the Customs Bill will allow the UK to set the
groundwork to becoming an independent global trading nation,
establish a standalone customs regime, and ensure that the VAT
and excise regimes operate effectively when we leave the European
Union – providing necessary certainty for businesses and
international trading partners to make the most of this
opportunity.
Key measures in the Trade Bill include provisions for the UK to
implement existing EU trade agreements, ensuring UK companies can
continue to access major government contracts in other countries
and creating a new trade remedies body to defend UK businesses
against unfair and injurious trade practices.
Further tax-related elements of the UK’s trade policy will be
legislated in the Treasury’s Customs Bill – Taxation
(Cross-border Trade) Bill – as part of the creation of
a new UK tariff regime. This includes the trade remedies and
unilateral trade preferences which provide preferential trade
access to UK markets for developing countries.
International Trade Secretary said:
“For the first time in over 40 years the UK will be able to shape
our own trade and investment agenda – and we are determined that
businesses and consumers can take advantage of this opportunity
from the day we leave the EU.
“We are getting on with delivering a successful Brexit that
strengthens our existing trade relationships while opening up
access to new and exciting markets across the world.”
The Bills follow engagement with stakeholders including the
Scottish and Welsh Governments and Northern Ireland leaders after
the Trade and Customs White Papers were published in
October.
The Trade Bill laid in Parliament today will:
- · Create powers to
assist in the transition of over 40 existing trade agreements
between the EU and other countries;
- · Enable the UK to
become an independent member of the Agreement on Government
Procurement (GPA); ensuring UK companies have continued access to
£1.3 trillion worth of government contracts and procurement
opportunities in 47 countries;
- · Establish a new
independent UK body, the Trade Remedies Authority, to defend UK
businesses against unfair trade practices;
- · Ensure the UK
Government has the legal abilities for gathering and sharing
trade information, as evidence to support UK businesses against
surges in imports and unfair practices.
The government also laid resolutions for the Customs Bill, which
will enter Parliament shortly. The Bill will allow the government
to create a standalone customs regime and amend the VAT and
excise regimes including allowing the government to:
- · Charge and
vary customs duty on goods;
- · Specify
which duties are payable on which goods;
- · Set
preferential or additional duties in certain circumstances –
for example, to support developing countries;
- · And maintain
a functioning movement of goods from the day we leave the EU by
continuing the VAT and excise regimes in line with the final deal
reached in negotiations.
