Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Trade policy update

19 May 2020 · Department for International Trade

Proposed by Elizabeth Truss Con South West Norfolk

Business & Trade

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The UK Global Tariff will replace the EU's Common External Tariff starting January 1, 2021.
  • The new tariff regime is designed to be simpler, more accessible, and generally lower than the EU CET.
  • Zero tariffs are applied to almost double the number of products compared to the EU system, while protective tariffs are retained for specific industries.

Issue summary

The statement announces the introduction of the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) to replace the EU’s Common External Tariff starting January 1, 2021.

Action requested

The Government has developed and implemented a new tariff regime that is simpler, more accessible, and lower than the previous EU CET. It includes zero tariffs on almost double the number of products compared to the EU's system and retains protective tariffs for certain industries like agriculture and automotive.

Key facts

  • The UK Global Tariff (UKGT) will replace the EU’s Common External Tariff on January 1, 2021.
  • The new tariff regime makes approximately 50% of products zero-tariff compared to 27% in the EU CET.
  • The consultation for the UKGT received over 1,300 responses from individuals and businesses across the UK.
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