Brexit shopping boost

Dishwashers, freezers and Xmas trees among items to be cheaper

DISHWASHERS, Christmas trees and cocoa will be cheaper under post-Brexit tariffs, ministers said yesterday.

The Department for International Trade said the UK Global Tariff will axe duties on around £62billion of imports.

However tariffs will be maintained to protect car manufacturing, agriculture and fishing.

Dishwashers, freezers and Christmas trees will have zero tariffs under the new regime along with cooking products such as cocoa and baking powder.

Many tariff variations will be scrapped, including on more than 13,000 products including biscuits, waffles, pizzas, quiches, confecnesses tionery and spreads. The UK Global Tariff replaces the European Union’s external tariff on January 1, at the end of the Brexit transition period. Some 60 per cent of trade will be tariff-free.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: ‘Our new Global Tariff will benefit UK consumers and households by cutting red tape and reducing the cost of thousands of everyday products.

‘With this straightforward approach, we are backing UK industry and helping busiovercome the unprecedented economic challenges posed by coronavirus.’

The Government said it would keep a 10 per cent tariff on imported cars and maintain protections for agricultural products such as lamb, beef and poultry.

Most pharmaceuticals and medical devices, including ventilators, will be tariff-free.

Ministers have set a temporary zero tariff rate on some products used in the fight against coronavirus, which would otherwise face a levy under the new system. The 10 per cent tariff on cars could add to the cost of vehicles from European manufacturers if a trade deal with the EU is not struck by the end of the year.

The tariff schedule will apply to all countries that the UK does not have a trade agreement with.

Some tariffs are also being maintained at low levels to support imports from the world’s poorest countries and give them preferential access to the UK market.

Talks between the UK and EU have made little progress so far, with Government insiders describing the latest negotiating session as ‘tetchy’.

Josh Hardie, CBI deputy director general, said: ‘Businesses will need time to assess the detail and ensuring there’s a system in place to address issues as they arise will be critical.

‘Crucially, firms’ number one priority is for the Government to strike a deal with the EU and ensuring continuity of existing trade deals.’