Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

Stated Alternatives

• Revocation of Article 50
• Withdrawal Agreement is ratified before 22

May – move into transition on 1 June

• An exit from the EU with an alternative deal
• NO DEAL
• Take NO DEAL off the table
• A second Referendum
• A General Election

Actual Alternatives

• Revoke Article 50 – legally possible
• Agree a “Divorce Deal”
• NO DEAL – default legal option

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

What are the alternatives?

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

The BREXIT timeline – thus far

EU Voter concerns (polls conducted in last 6 months):

• Immigration tops the agenda

(50%)

• Economy (47%)
• Youth unemployment (47%)
• Combatting terrorism moved

down from first to fourth place with 44%. Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

What impact will the EU Parliamentary elections have on the BREXIT process?

Current Projections suggest:

• Centre-right European People's Party – 180

seats – down 37 seats.

• Centre-left Socialists and Democrats would

drop from 186 to 149 seats.

• The Europe of Nations and Freedom group

(Right-wing and far-right - Italy's Liga, Britain's UKIP and France's National Rally) - 62 seats – up from the current 37.

• New parties (BREXIT Party) are listed as

"other," are expected to expand from 21 seats to 62.

751 Seat EU Parliament

A special place in hell for Brexiteers without a plan – Donald Tusk The only winners from Brexit would be Farage and Putin, who would relish a divided Europe – Guy Verhofstadt The EU cannot be held hostage to the Brexit crisis – Emmanuel Macron This is the best deal…the

• nly possible deal –

Jean-Claude Juncker I won’t let British tragedy INFECT the EU – Manfred Weber It’s a matter now of avoiding the biggest mistake of all – a chaotic Brexit without contractual arrangements in place – Antonio Tajani You have to play by European Rules – Margrethe Vestager

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

BREXIT is a “still to be determined” process and not an event… The Flextension might have removed the immediate Cliff edge - but its only a temporary pause in the process. This additional time needs to be used wisely by the Regulatory Authority and industry alike. Adjustment to industry plans are not as simple as changing the end date. Plans are already in motion – do we keep options open, pause planning, roll-back preparations or do we need to re-evaluate all options on a more strategic basis. The Flextension prolongs the uncertainty on both how and when the UK leaves the EU. Creates a greater need for UK businesses to become agile as BREXIT becomes the backdrop to all strategic and investment decisions.

“Any extra time to plan for BREXIT is a gift. Don’t waste it.”

Public Statements – “Constructive”; “Serious”; “We have some way to travel” BUT – the EU will not re-open the Withdrawal

• Agreement. Are changes to the detail of the Political

Declaration possible; and if so will they be sufficient to get a majority in the House of Commons?

• Workers rights – there appears to be common

ground

• Customs Union / Arrangement
• Remaining part of the EU Customs Union
• A new Customs Union agreement
• A Customs Union while not participating in the single

market.

• A second Referendum / public vote ?

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

Tory / Labour Cross Party talks – can they agree on BREXIT?

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

Written submission to the Exiting the European Union Committee “Civil Servants have been told to stand down NO DEAL BREXIT operational planning with immediate effect”.

• ACITA is concerned that NO DEAL planning is being “stood down”.
• HM Government should be using the time until 31/10/2019 to advance NO-DEAL plans in regards to

customs formalities.

• HM Government should engage in meaningful consultation at all levels to ensure that the future trading

relationship with the EU works for all UK business. Use the period up until 31 October wisely, as failure to do so will simply mean that the problems of March become the problems of October.

ACITA’s key goal remains ensuring that UK plc is open for EU/UK business on Day 1 post BREXIT regardless of the outcome of the negotiations

Automated Customs and International Trade Association (ACITA) – the voice of international trade

What next…

• We will continue to raise awareness and apply pressure through:
• HMRC’s Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC)
• Direct engagement with the various Committees at the House of Commons
• Regular meetings and correspondence with Members of Parliament
• Regular meetings and correspondence with HMRC, HMT and other government agencies
• Think Tanks and similar organisations
• Follow digital developments (CHIEF / CDS)
• Provide neutral technical input into initiatives like Prosperity UK’s Alternative Arrangements Technical

Panel (AATP).

• Keep our membership abreast of developments.