Drilling down into deal’s specifics

What would Theresa May’s plan mean for post-Brexit trade?

Under a new UK-EU free trade deal, the UK would abide by EU regulations for industrial, agricultural and food goods. The UK’s services sector would lose its current levels of access to EU markets.

How would the Facilitated Customs Arrangement (FCA) work?

All imported goods would be charged the UK tariff at the border, rather than the EU rate. Goods would then be tracked – and if they were sent on to the Continent, then the EU tariff would be charged and the money passed on to Brussels. The British government says the plan allows the UK to sign trade deals with other countries.

What would be the impact on UK sovereignty?

Parliament would have the final say over how EU rules were incorporated into UK law, but would have to pay ‘due regard’ to European Court of Justice rulings relating to the trade in EU goods.

Will the deal lead to a drop in immigration?

Freedom of movement, as it stands, will come to an end, but an as yet undefined ‘mobility framework’ will ensure that UK and EU citizens can continue to travel to each other’s territories to apply for study or work.