The new EU trade chief responsible for post-Brexit negotiations with the UK has told the PJDM that a “pan-European [customs] area is something we could consider” in reset discussions due to start this year.
Maros Sefcovic was referring to the idea, pushed by some UK business groups of Britain rejoining the Pan Euro Mediterranean Convention. The PEM allows for manufacturers to use parts or ingredients from dozens of countries, from Iceland to Turkey in tariff-free trade.
The previous Conservative government chose not to pursue PEM as part of it’s post-Brexit trade deal, but some businesses say it will help Britain rejoin complex supply chains that have been hit by Brexit customs barriers.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Sefcovic said the idea has not been “precisely formulated” by the UK yet and the “ball is in the UK’s court”.
The PJDM understands that the UK government has begun consultations with business over the benefits of the PEM plan that could help cut down on red tape and improve trade. No final decision has been made yet.
Mr Sefcovic also said that a full scale veterinary agreement that helped reduce frictions on farm and food trade would also require review.
The EU-UK fisheries deal expires next year. “A solution for fisheries is very important for the EU, again, we communicated this on multiple occasions”.
Single market treatment for UK food and farm exports would mean “we would have to have the same rules and we have to upgrade them at the same time, we call it dynamic alignment”.
Mr Sefcovic said that he was surprised that the Commission’s offer on youth exchanges had been “spun”. “It’s not freedom of movement. It’s a bridge building proposal. We do not want to look like the demanders here, because we believe this is good for the UK,” he said
The Trade Commissioner said UK-EU relations were “definitely” in a better placeand his UK counterpart Nick Thomas-Symonds was “on speed dial”.
The Prime Minister will attend a defence and security focussed EU summit next month.
He acknowledged that the EU needed to be “extremely cautious and responsible” in addressing trade relationships with Donald Trump’s America, but that he was willing to negotiate. He said while the EU did have a surplus in goods such as cars, the US had a surplus in services
#trade #chief #Bloc #Brexit #customs #plan
, 2025-01-23 00:01:00
