TIMELINE

TODAY

UK firms exporting goods to extreme destinations such as Australia risk being affected by Brexit. It takes around 50 days for ships to reach Down Under, meaning the cargo might arrive after Brexit Day when tariffs could apply if no deal is secured.

FEBRUARY 14

Valentine’s Day has been built up as yet another D-Day for Brexit in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May will deliver a statement before a neutral motion is placed before MPs. The motion can be amended which is likely to result in a series of votes on possible ways forward, including an extension to Article 50.

FEBRUARY 17

The trade problems intensify as from this date. Ships setting off for parts of Asia, including Japan, will be expected to arrive after March 29. Without a deal it is not clear how any goods on board will be dealt with by customs officers.

FEBRUARY 22

The Irish Government intends to publish the full text of the so-called Omnibus Bill, which will give affect to legislation needed for a no-deal scenario. It will be debated in the Dáil in the weeks up to mid-March.

FEBRUARY 24

EU leaders are due to meet in Egypt for the EU-League of Arab States summit. If any changes are made to the deal, they may have to be signed off on at the fringes of this gathering.

FEBRUARY 28

Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have set the end of February as a deadline for reassessing progress on a revised deal.

EARLY MARCH

The UK parliament is expected to hold a second ‘meaningful vote’ on the Withdrawal Agreement before it is ratified by the European Parliament. This is likely to have to happen in the first week of March.

MARCH 29

Brexit day – unless there is an extension to Article 50.