Theresa May’s customs partnership would cost Britain £60million a week
The PM's flawed plan would mean 'a substantial proportion of customs revenues collected at our borders' would be sent to Brussels — and without a secure refund
BRITAIN could still send Brussels £60 million every week in collected import tariffs under Theresa May’s Customs Partnership, experts warned last night.
But the flawed plan would mean the money would be sent without knowing what refund Britain would get back if imported goods stayed in the UK rather than being sold in Europe.
In 2017 the UK contributed £3.2 billion of customs revenues to the EU charged on goods that arrived from other countries.
Under Mrs May’s complex plan the UK “would mirror” Brussels tariff rates on those goods after Brexit and then businesses would claim a refund if they were only sold in Britain.
most read in politics
Last night the respected Open Europe think tank branded it “bad politics, bad policy and a bad plan.”
Boss Henry Newman said Theresa May must be “clear that it would likely mean the UK continuing to pay a substantial proportion of any customs revenues collected at our borders to the EU.”
He added: “Customs Partnership could entail the UK paying very large sums of money to the EU in the long-term - something the Government has so-far ruled out.”
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]