Brexit to increase red tape

FIRMS face more red tape to trade with the EU under the Government’s latest Brexit plan.

Both proposed options for a longterm EU deal – after the end of any temporary customs union transition period to avoid a cliff-edge exit – come with more paperwork.

The “future partnership paper” published yesterday wants a new customs system allowing the “freest and most frictionless trade” between the UK and EU, enabling the UK to forge new trade deals with partners in Europe and around the world.

But the EU Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, dismissed the proposals and stressed in a tweet: “First need to secure citizens rights & a financial settlement.”

The 14-page document seemed to fly in the face of Brexiteer claims that quitting the EU would free UK firms from Brussels red tape.

The paper says businesses would have to declare goods for import and export, provide safety, licence and security paperwork – and make HMRC declarations.

This paperwork would allow Britain to “mirror” Brus-