MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Crucial week for Theresa May who insists that “we are leaving the customs union”
British Prime Minister Theresa May could bow to Parliamentary pressure to keep Britain in a customs union with the European Union after Brexit. Following a defeat in the House of Lords and reports that a number of Tory MPs will vote in favor of membership in the Commons, the Prime Minister and her team are reported to be having a rethink. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesThe EU have already stated there can be no customs union without freedom of movement, and we keep on hearing that freedom of movement is off the cards as far as the UK Gov is concerned. There will be no customs union, and it's looking more and more like there will be no 'transition period' either after March 2019. Hard Brexit folks. Get ready.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 09:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0Wrong. You are thinking of the single market; Turkey is in the EU customs union and does not have free movement. Staying in it would solve the NI border issue which is one of the main stumbling blocks of Brexit, and as a bonus, Boris might resign! It does have the rather large downside that it prevents us negotiating our own trade deals, though.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 01:48 pm - Link - Report abuse -2Wrong..., Mr. DemonTree... You are thinking wrongly...; Turkey is ***“ NOT IN THE EU ”*** customs union and does not have free movement. Turkey is ***“ IN A EU”*** customs union and therefore does not have free movement....
Apr 24th, 2018 - 03:29 pm - Link - Report abuse -1“IN THE” and “IN A” are two qte different things.., laddie...
Please..., infom yourself...
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/turkey/
Okay, but my point stands. We could be in a customs union with the EU without being in the single market and without having free movement. Plus, Boris resigning. ;)
Apr 24th, 2018 - 03:58 pm - Link - Report abuse -3You could also have your cake and eat it...
Apr 24th, 2018 - 04:23 pm - Link - Report abuse -2But you won't..., lads...
EU mom is angry...
Pretending to be Boris doesn't suit you. The EU want the Irish border to stay open, and the best way to achieve that is for the UK to stay in the customs union. Plus it keeps the infamous German car manufacturers happy. There's no real downside from the EU's point of view.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse -3Mr Demon Tree, I haven’t posted for a long while here ,although I follow events.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse -2“We could be in a customs union with the EU without being in the single market and without having free movement”. That would be be be good, but tend towards the view of - The Voice. If it has to be be - we move on and suck it up.
@ES
Apr 24th, 2018 - 06:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Hi. The Voice would never want us to stay in the customs union. Did you mean Voice without the 'The'?
Trouble with staying in the customs union is that we can't negotiate our own trade deals, which was supposed to be one of the main benefits of leaving. Plus the EU would keep quite a bit of power since they determine the tariffs etc. It would mean we definitely don't have to go back to WTO terms, though.
Unfortunately the only obvious solutions to the border problem are for either the whole UK or just NI to stay in a customs union, so it may well come down to that.
Anoher “obvious” solution would be to let NI return to mother Eire...
Apr 24th, 2018 - 06:36 pm - Link - Report abuse -1They're not going to just abandon NI out of convenience, even if May wasn't relying on the DUP to keep her majority.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse +1NI is changing, Ireland is changing, so it could happen one day, but I don't think many people think it's a good idea right now.
Still “obvious”..., ain't it...?
Apr 24th, 2018 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse -1It didn't even occur to me. Seems about as obvious as cutting off your foot to treat a broken toe.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 08:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yupppppppppppppppppppppppp....
Apr 24th, 2018 - 08:30 pm - Link - Report abuse -1That's the wayan Engrishman would look at it...
I Think..., many a million Paddys see it quite differently...
Seems,Twinkle is fixated on Brexit or on anything that would harm Britain.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 11:01 pm - Link - Report abuse +1He should be more concerned about the Villas and the poor Cartoneros and why Argentina doesnt work.
@Think
Apr 26th, 2018 - 09:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Told you so:
http://en.mercopress.com/2018/04/26/eu-offers-closer-post-brexit-relation-if-uk-remains-in-the-customs-union
You told me what..., boy...?
Apr 26th, 2018 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse -2All I can see is that you are still mixing your“A's” with your “THE's”...
And MercoPress is certainly not helping you with their tendentious choice of texts...
That the EU does want Britain to stay in a customs union and wouldn't require free movement in order to agree to it. It's not like having your cake and eating it at all.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 03:25 pm - Link - Report abuse +1The press also seems generally unsure whether it is 'a' or 'the', so you can't blame me:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/eu-said-to-be-ready-to-give-u-k-a-say-on-trade-in-customs-union
Correction...:
Apr 26th, 2018 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse -1***“ The Anglo press seems generally unsure whether it is 'a' or 'the, so you can't blame me...”*** you say...
The Italic..., Germanic..., Franc... and Scandinavian press seem very sure whether it is 'A' or 'THE'..., so I can certainly ask you to do better..., lad....
I had a look and the French and German press is no different:
Apr 26th, 2018 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse +1“Brexit: Theresa May tiraillée face au maintien ou non dans l’union douanière”
“Selon le Sunday Times, la Première ministre britannique montre des signes de fléchissement concernant la sortie du Royaume-Uni de l’union douanière, pourtant érigée en ligne blanche depuis plusieurs mois.”
“Wenn das britische Unterhaus heute dafür stimmt, in der EU-Zollunion zu bleiben, wäre das für Premierministerin Theresa May eine schwere Niederlage. Brexit-Gegner sehen in der Abstimmung eine Chance, den EU-Austritt doch noch zu stoppen.”
“Im britischen Parlament gibt es immer mehr Widerstand gegen die Pläne, aus der Zollunion auszutreten. Innenministerin Amber Rudd hat sich auf Twitter klar dazu geäußert.”
But it's just semantics anyway; it all comes down to the same (bad) options in the end. :(
And I suppose it's right that you support Brexit. You don't exactly agree with EU values so why wouldn't you want to see it weakened?
Boy..., boy...,boy...
Apr 26th, 2018 - 07:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -2You are reading the European articles about them remainer Engrishmen voting about staying or not in “THE” Customs Union..., the one WITH free movement...
You are not reading the European articles about BrExit Engrishmen wanting “A” Customs Union..., one WITHOUT free movement ...
It is only the Anglo press presenting their brainwashed readers with articles with those two different words well tossed into them...
And for your kind info...:
What you call semantics..., do mean billions of €uros in or out of the Engrish economy...
Yearly...
Well then, your turn to show some evidence. Many of those articles talked about both 'a' and 'the' customs union, just like the ones in the 'Anglo' press. But not one of them mentioned freedom of movement.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Geeee...., boy...
Apr 26th, 2018 - 08:22 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Sometimes you remind me of Terence Hill...
“THE” Customs Union of the EU comes with an untouchable “Freedom of Movement” clause...
“A” Customs Union with the EU can be whatever..., but sure as hell it will be expensive for the UK...
Capisce now...?
If we can stay in the Customs Union AND control who works in Britain, and be able to trade freely on our own terms with all parts of the world that would be a massive dose of common sense from our Continental friends. Quite out of character and opposite to what they have been trying to impose upon us all along.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse +3We dont need any input from Ah Gee vegetables, so sod off Twinkle. All you are trying to do is stir.
TWIMC...
Apr 26th, 2018 - 08:45 pm - Link - Report abuse -2I sincerely hope Engeland gets its disruptive arse out..., so the EU can return to its core values...
And I sincerely hope that Engeland gets ruled from now on by brillant minds as “The Voice”...
Chuckle..., chuckle...
@Think
Apr 26th, 2018 - 09:35 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Terry is an idiot, but the people he quotes aren't.
If the Customs Union of the EU comes with an untouchable “Freedom of Movement” clause, you should be able to find something saying so. The EU website would be best, but any news article would be a good start.
In actual fact you're just talking crap. AFAIK what would actually happen is a customs union between the EU and UK, which unlike the Turkish one would include all goods. Basically identical to being in 'the' customs union, but since we wouldn't be in the single market there'd be no big payments and no freedom of movement. (However, there'd be other downsides as I already mentioned.)
PS. “so the EU can return to its core values” - which core values were you thinking of?
Propping up inefficient French agriculture? Ever increasing bureaucracy? Or creating a 'United States of Europe'? They aren't remotely ready for the last one, and if EU values include liberal democracy then Hungary and Poland are currently the biggest threats.
I note that no one in the EU seems to share your attitude - none of them are at all happy about Brexit.
@TV
Unfortunately, what you want is completely impossible. The Customs Union allows goods to be transported across borders within Europe without checks, tariffs or limits, but that is only possible because all the countries in the EU charge the same tariffs on goods coming from outside. Trading freely on our own terms would mean setting our own tariffs, but if we're in a customs union we can't do that.
It's not the EU being awkward in this case but simple logistics.
I think someone is getting confused between 'Custom Union' and 'Single Market'.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 09:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0***“No one in the EU seems to share my attitude”***... you say....
Apr 26th, 2018 - 09:55 pm - Link - Report abuse -2Geeeeeeeedde.., boy..., you are sooo out of touch...
That Channel Fog has really isolated you...
Chuckle..., chuckle...
No *official* in the EU. I don't mean random citizens.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 10:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And speaking of out of touch, at least I know the difference between the single market and the customs union.
Anyway, do you want the evil neo-liberal EU to be stronger or not?
Pachamama, what I described is not impossible, thats the whole point. The EU makes up daft rules and then insists everybody follows them regardless. Typical of the Teutonic mind, the Twinkle Vegetable would understand totally, although he stuggles with many complex concepts. He shares one core value with the EU though… screw the Brits!
Apr 26th, 2018 - 10:29 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Do tell us how it is possible to be in a customs union and also not be in a customs union at the same time, then. It's so unfair of the EU to insist on following the laws of the universe!
Apr 26th, 2018 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dead easy, goods pass tariff free across any borders with the EU, and like anywhere else, as with UL rules in the US, we observe EU standards where required, and the VAT rules too.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 10:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Period.
We trade to our/their rules with our other trading partners. Simple.
TV, being in a customs union means having common tariffs on goods imported from outside the union, that's what a customs union *is*. That means we can't set our own rules with other trading partners, we have to use the tariffs they agreed with the EU (which in the past we had a vote on, but in the future we will not).
Apr 27th, 2018 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Imagine if they didn't. Let's say the UK is angry with Argentina and puts a tariff of 50% on their beef, but Ireland doesn't care and continues to charge 10%. What happens? The Argie beef is imported to Ireland, they pay 10% to the Irish government, and then bring it over the border into the UK tariff free, and sell it here. Instead of 50%, the UK government gets nothing. Does that sound like a good idea? Does it even sound like having an independent trade policy?
READING HIS COMMENT ABOVE...,I MUST REPEAT...
Apr 27th, 2018 - 01:18 pm - Link - Report abuse -2***“ I sincerely hope that Engeland gets ruled from now on by brillant minds as “The Voice”..”***
Afer a couple of years of them..., them Malvinas Islands Engrish Kelper squatters would be begging Argentina for protection...!
Chuckle...,chuckle...
Goods pass to and fro between the EU and Britain tariff free, there is no customs intervention. Its none of the EUs business whatsoever what we agree with other countries. If it were up to people like you we would just lie down and let the EU trample all over us which in reality is what has been happening since Maastricht! In reality its never mattered to the EU whether we have a vote on anything like this. Germany and France have consistently ignored us which is part of the problem. The EU is a sclerotic failing corrupt protectionist mes. Italy Greece and Spain have been impoverished and I hope they follow us out before it collapses. Old Europe was so much better.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 01:57 pm - Link - Report abuse +1As for the Twinkle Vegetables aspirations its more likely that the Arr Gees will be soon on their knees with a begging bowl to the Kelpers when the gushers start delivering and direct tourist flights from Europe get going. And that will be quite soon.
TV. As long as goods pass to and fro between the EU and Britain tariff free, we CANNOT have an independent trade policy. What is the point of setting our own tariffs if importers can legally bring goods through the EU to avoid them? It would be meaningless. And why the fuck would the EU agree to legalise smuggling from Britain so other countries can avoid paying their tariffs? You are basically demanding that they give US control of THEIR trade policy.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 02:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As for voting, do you remember when the EU-Canada trade deal was nearly sunk because just half of Belgium voted against it? We had that veto too, until YOU decided to give it away because you think you know better than the experts. If we stay in the customs union now for NI's sake, we will have to allow in goods from whatever countries they make a deal with, and we'll have no say in any of it.
Importing goods and then immediately exporting them to the EU wont be allowed, and such goods from the EU wont be allowed into Britain either. The EU is the entity causing all these problems through intransigence and obfuscation, they will have to stop erecting daft obstacles and sort it or live with the consequences. We wont be in the customs union anyway so says our government.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 07:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If these negotiations fall apart that will concentrate their minds. Think mass unemployment..
***“Importing goods and then immediately exporting them to the EU wont be allowed”***..., says the genial turnip above...
Apr 27th, 2018 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse -1And who will control that in a Customs Union..., I ask...?
My unreserved vote for EngelandS PM for life goes to Turnip The Voice...
What a Turnp...!
@TV
Apr 27th, 2018 - 11:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Importing goods and then immediately exporting them to the EU wont be allowed, and such goods from the EU wont be allowed into Britain either.”
So goods won't be able to freely pass to and fro between the EU and Britain, then. And you can kiss that open border goodbye, too. Please don't bother accusing the EU of intransigence until you can show at least a basic understanding of the facts.
@Think
Can't you go back to being wrong? It's less depressing.
Doesnt surprise me that the Twinkle Vegetable is incapable of Thinking creatively, but the Poodle! I wrongly imagined that the Poodle held the equivalent status of Grommit?
Apr 28th, 2018 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse -2Not much point talking about creative solutions with someone who can't admit there's a problem.
Apr 28th, 2018 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The question is why is this piece appearing in Mercopenguin, a British government propaganda organ supposedly devoted to America, South America and the “South Atlantic”?
Apr 30th, 2018 - 03:49 am - Link - Report abuse -3The mourneful Barnier is in Ulster today. I would love to be a fly on the wall when he meets Arlene Foster. Sparks will fly!
Apr 30th, 2018 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!