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Agencies

Britain said it would eliminate import tariffs on a wide range of goods and avoid a so-called hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The government announced the moves, which it said would be temporary, ahead of a vote by lawmakers early Thursday Hong Kong time on whether Britain should leave the European Union without a deal, a prospect that alarms many employers with the scheduled March 29 Brexit date fast approaching.
Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a second, heavy parliamentary defeat on the withdrawal deal she struck with the bloc on Tuesday, leaving open the possibility of an abrupt, economically damaging Brexit without a transition arrangement.
However, lawmakers were expected to vote against a no-deal Brexit and then, on Thursday, vote in favour of seeking a delay to Brexit.


May said such an extension would be short, and that it risked a new cliff-edge in June, suggesting the British government was looking at a three-month delay.
But even if there was an extension, there’s no guarantee of a deal with the EU.
The measures announced today recognise the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland
Karen Bradley, secretary of state for Northern Ireland
Under the tariff plan for a no-deal Brexit that would last for up to 12 months, 87 per cent of total imports to the United Kingdom by value would be eligible for tariff-free access, up from 80 per cent now.
Tariffs on beef, lamb, pork, poultry and some dairy would be reduced but retained in most cases.
In the auto sector, the government said carmakers reliant on European Union supply chains would not face additional tariffs for car parts imported from the EU but tariffs would apply on imported cars.
The new regime would not apply to countries with which Britain already has a free-trade agreement and to around 70 developing countries that have preferential access to the British market.
‘Total failure’: Brexit defeat leaves British PM Theresa May’s authority in tatters, as Eurosceptics and pro-EU forces unite in anger
On the Irish border, the British government said it would not introduce any new checks or controls on goods moving from the Irish Republic to the British province of Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, stressing the plan was temporary and unilateral.
“The measures announced today recognise the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland,” Karen Bradley, Britain’s secretary of state for Northern Ireland said.
“These arrangements can only be temporary and short-term.”

Britain would seek to enter discussions urgently with the European Commission and the Irish government to agree long-term measures to avoid a hard border.
Goods crossing the border from Ireland into Northern Ireland would not be covered by the new import tariff regime.
Britain, Ireland and the EU have said they want to avoid physical checks on the border, which was marked by military checkpoints before a 1998 peace deal ended three decades of violence in the region.
But they disagree on the “backstop”, or insurance mechanism, to exclude such border checks.
The European Union said there would be no more negotiations with London on the divorce terms, struck with May after two-and-a-half years of tortuous negotiations.

A spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk, representing EU governments, said Britain would have to provide a “credible justification” for any request for any delay.
The default position if nothing else is agreed remains that Britain will exit with no deal, a scenario that business leaders warn would bring chaos to markets and supply chains, and other critics say could cause shortages of food and medicines.
Supporters of Brexit argue that, while a no-deal divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the in the longer term it would allow the United Kingdom to thrive and forge trade deals across the world.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse


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Brexit

Britain vows to temporarily scrap import tariffs on 87 per cent of imports in event of no-deal Brexit

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May speaking at the start of the debate on the second meaningful vote on the government’s Brexit deal. Photo: AFP

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet office signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on March 28, 2017 in London, England. Christopher Furlong/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a family photo during the European Union leaders informal summit in Salzburg, Austria, September 20, 2018. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

British MPs overwhelmingly reject Theresa May’s Brexit deal for second time

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaking to the house after losing the second meaningful vote on the government's Brexit deal, in the House of Commons in London on March 12, 2019. (Photo by - / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after tellers announced the results of the vote Brexit deal in Parliament in London, Britain, March 12, 2019, in this screen grab taken from video. Reuters TV via REUTERS

Anti-Brexit protesters are seen after the Brexit voting outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Anti-Brexit supporters react after the Brexit voting outside the Parliament in London. Photo: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

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Europe

Move, set to last up to 12 months, is aimed at avoiding a jump in prices of EU imports for consumers and a disruption of supply chains


New regime is aimed at avoiding a jump in prices of EU imports for consumers and a disruption of supply chains, and is intended to be temporary for up to 12 months.


Britain

Theresa May

European Union

Britain vows to temporarily scrap import tariffs on 87 per cent of imports in event of no-deal Brexit

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Move, set to last up to 12 months, is aimed at avoiding a jump in prices of EU imports for consumers and a disruption of supply chains

Move, set to last up to 12 months, is aimed at avoiding a jump in prices of EU imports for consumers and a disruption of supply chains