Wider Trade & Customs
Updated 5 November 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-agreements-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-without-a-deal/wider-trade-customs
Agreement on Government Procurement
Description
The agreement sits under the umbrella of the WTO as a plurilateral agreement. It governs the liberalisation and operation of the parties’ procurement markets.
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will Be in Place
Additional Comments
The GPA Committee invited the UK to accede on 27 February. The Government has made guidance available to businesses here and here.
Lead Department(s)
Cabinet Office/Department for International Trade
Country
N/A - Multilateral
Source
- Agreement on Government Procurement
Convention on a Common Transit Procedure and Council Decision
Description
The Convention on a common transit procedure 1987 (CTC) sets out a facilitative customs procedure which reduces border friction and provides cash flow advantages to traders. CTC allows the suspension of customs checks and payments of duties until the goods reach their final destination, minimising administration costs and reducing delays.
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in place
Additional Comments
Deposited on 30th January 2019. For further information please see published article
Lead Department
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
Country
N/A - Multilateral
Source
- Convention on a common transit procedure
Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods and Council Decision
Description
The Convention concerning the simplification of formalities in trade in goods 1987 (SAD) establishes the Single Administrative Document used for customs declarations in the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, North Macedonia and Serbia. That Single Administrative Document reduces the administrative burden by providing an internationally recognised customs document to be used for any procedure at export and import when manual processing is required, increasing standardisation and harmonisation of data collected on trade.
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in place
Additional Comments
Deposited on 30th January 2019. For further information please see published article
Lead Department
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
Country
N/A - Multilateral
Source
- Convention concerning the simplification of formalities in trade in goods
Letters agreeing cooperation between the Financial Services Agency of Japan/ The Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board of Japan and the UK Financial Reporting Council (June 2014)
Description
Working arrangement between the FRC as the UK’s regulatory authority for audit and the Financial Services Agency and Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board of Japan on the transfer of audit working papers and investigation reports
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in Place
Additional Comments
The agreements are in force now. The letters confirm that they will continue in force after Exit Day.
Lead Department
BEIS
Country
Japan
Source
- Letters agreeing cooperation between the Financial Services Agency of Japan/ The Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board of Japan and the UK Financial Reporting Council (June 2014)
MOU between the UK Financial Reporting Council and the Swiss Federal Audit Oversight Authority (March 2014)
Description
Working arrangement between the FRC as the UK’s regulatory authority for audit and the Swiss Federal Audit Oversight Authority on the transfer of audit working papers and investigation reports
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in Place
Additional Comments
The agreements are in force now. The letters confirm that they will continue in force after Exit Day.
Lead Department
BEIS
Country
Switzerland
Source
- MOU between the UK Financial Reporting Council and the Swiss Federal Audit Oversight Authority (March 2014)
MOU between UK Financial Reporting Council and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (December 2016)
Description
Working arrangement between the FRC as the UK’s regulatory authority for audit and the Canadian Public Accountability Borad on the transfer of audit working papers and investigation reports
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in Place
Additional Comments
The agreements are in force now. The letters confirm that they will continue in force after Exit Day.
Lead Department
BEIS
Country
Canada
Source
- MOU between UK Financial Reporting Council and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (December 2016)
MOU between UK Financial Reporting Council and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (December 2016)
Description
Working arrangement between the FRC as the UK’s regulatory authority for audit and the Canadian Public Accountability Borad on the transfer of audit working papers and investigation reports
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in Place
Additional Comments
The agreements are in force now. The letters confirm that they will continue in force after Exit Day.
Lead Department
BEIS
Country
Canada
Source
- MOU between UK Financial Reporting Council and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (December 2016)
Statement of Protocol between the UK Financial Reporting Council and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and Data Protection Agreement (April 2017)
Description
Working arrangement between the FRC as the UK’s regulatory authority for audit and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the USA on the transfer of audit working papers and investigation reports
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Will be in Place
Additional Comments
The agreements are in force now. The letters confirm that they will continue in force after Exit Day.
Lead Department
BEIS
Country
USA
Source
Statement of Protocol between the UK Financial Reporting Council and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and Data Protection Agreement (April 2017)
European Cooperation in Legal Metrology (WELMEC)
Description
This agreement provides for the UK’s participation in WELMEC - a body set up to promote European cooperation in the field of legal metrology.
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Engagement ongoing
Additional Comments
On departure from the EU, the UK will no longer be eligible for membership as it will not be an EU/EEA/EFTA State. The WELMEC Committee is currently reviewing its membership criteria. Work is ongoing to ensure continued UK membership. In the event continued membership is not allowed, the UK will no longer be able to influence guidance on EU metrology legislation.
Lead Department
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Country
N/A - Multilateral
Source
- WELMEC (European Cooperation in Legal Metrology)
The Kimberley Process
Description
The scheme prevents the flow of conflict diamonds by implementing safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certifying them as “conflict free”.
Will this agreement or arrangement be in place in a no-deal scenario?
Expected to be in Place
Additional Comments
More detail can be found here
Lead Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Country
N/A - Multilateral
Source
- The Kimberley Process
DEFINITION OF CATEGORIES
Will be in Place
Agreement ready to enter into force on day one of exit, or only administrative or domestic implementation steps outstanding in order for agreement to enter into force on day one.
Expected to be in Place
Agreement on track to be in place for day one, and may have been initialled or agreed in principle, but some steps, such as signature or ratification, remain outstanding.
Engagement Ongoing
Discussions are ongoing with the third country.
Not Expected to be in Place
Existing obstacle(s) to the finalisation of text, signature, or ratification that is unlikely to be overcome in time for day one entry into force.
Will Not be in Place
Not possible to conclude for day one. In some cases, the agreement will nonetheless be in place shortly after day one.