Deal’s key points

Irish border

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that all of the UK — including Northern Ireland — must leave the EU’s customs union, which would seem to make border checks and tariffs inevitable. The proposed deal solves the problem by keeping Northern Ireland aligned with the rules of the EU single market for goods — so border checks are not needed — and also eliminating customs checks at the Irish border. Instead, customs checks will be carried out and tariffs levied by Britain on goods entering Northern Ireland that are destined for the EU. That effectively means a customs border in the Irish Sea. Apart from the section on Northern Ireland, the deal is largely the same as May’s rejected withdrawal agreement.

Transition period

If the deal is ratified, Britain will leave the EU on October 31 but remain inside the bloc’s single market and bound by its rules until the end of December 2020, while the two sides work out a new trade relationship.

Divorce bill

Britain agrees to cover contributions to staff pensions and commitments to EU programmes the UK made while a member for the funding period that runs to 2020.

Citizens’ rights

EU citizens now living in Britain, and Britons living or working in EU countries, won’t lose their rights to live and work in those areas.

Trade

In a non-binding political declaration that accompanies the withdrawal agreement, the two sides promise “an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership across trade and economic cooperation with a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement at its core”.

Security

The two sides say they will have a “broad, comprehensive and balanced security partnership” but say the “scale and scope” of the relationship will depend on how close the future relationship is.

Travel

EU citizens will lose the right to live and work in Britain — and vice versa — but citizens of the UK and the EU will not need visas for short visits.