U.K. rules out being in a customs union with the EU after Brexit

February 5, 2018

Britain has ruled out staying in any customs union with the European Union after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Monday as the government prepares for a crunch week of Brexit talks.

The extent of any British post-Brexit involvement in the EU's customs union – which binds members into a trade bloc with common external tariffs – has become a major issue of contention inside May's divided government and Conservative Party.

Membership of the, or a, customs union after Brexit, would prevent London from striking trade deals with countries outside the EU in future.

"The key point, as the prime minister has said on many many occasions, is that we need to have our own independent trade policy and be able to strike trade deals with the rest of the world," May's spokesman told reporters.

This was excerpted from the 5 February 2018 edition of The Globe and Mail (subscription may be required).

Topic(s)

Trade Agreements

International Trade and Border Management

Information source

Canadian News Channel

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