Comment: European Council draft guidelines

David Dingle CBE, Chairman of Maritime UK said:

“Whilst we welcome the EU’s ambition for tariff-free trade in goods, we remain concerned about the risk of delays and disruption to the logistics chain caused by customs and frontier checks such as port health inspections. The UK-EU future trade deal must deliver as little friction as possible.

“We are disappointed by the lack of commitment in the draft guidelines to services. A ‘no deal’ on services will only benefit non-European countries. It's in both the UK and EU interest to include services, to build upon existing links, and ensure that Europe continues to be home to the world's leading services centre.

“The maritime sector reiterates its call for pragmatism on both sides. This negotiation is the first of a kind. No country has ever left the European Union, so there really is no precedent.

“With 387 days until the UK leaves the EU, we urgently need agreement on transitional arrangements.”

Maritime UK believes the transitional agreement should deliver:

• The UK’s current economic participation and form continued in the single market and customs union during a transitional period.
• A transitional period that lasts as long as it takes for new practices and processes to be put in place in order to avoid even the most temporary disruption to trade.
• The UK having some form of influence over EU rules and regulations developed during the transitional period, and which the UK would be subject to.