Key points in the White Paper...

1. There will be a free trade area for goods

If the UK Government’s vision becomes reality this free trade area “would protect the uniquely integrated supply chains and ‘just-intime’ processes that have developed across the UK and the EU over the last 40 years, and the jobs and livelihoods dependent on them”.

It claims this “would avoid the need for customs and regulatory checks at the border, and mean that businesses would not need to complete costly customs declarations. And it would enable products to only undergo one set of approvals and authorisations in either market, before being sold in both”.

This will not quell demands for a similar arrangement for trade in services.

2. Free movement will be replaced with “mobility arrangements”

It states that “given the depth of the relationship and close ties between the peoples of the UK and the EU, the UK will make a sovereign choice in a defined number of areas to seek reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU”.

Some eurosceptics will strongly oppose any measures seen to give preferential treatment to EU nationals.

3. Vehicles made in the UK would be recognised in the EU

Aston Martin, which has invested in a major production site in the Vale of Glamorgan, warned of the “semi-catastrophic” scenario in which production had to be halted if cars made in the UK were not approved in the EU.

The White Paper seeks to calm such concerns.

It states: “The common rulebook would include the type approval system for all categories of motor vehicles. The UK and the EU would continue recognising the activities of one another’s type approval authorities, including whole vehicle type approval certificates, assessments of conformity of production procedures and other associated activities...

“Both the UK and the EU would continue to permit vehicles to enter into service on the basis of a valid certificate of conformity.”

4. The UK will introduce its own scheme to protect Welsh lamb and beef

The White Paper stresses the importance of “Geographical Indicators” (GIs) for food exports which ensure Welsh lamb, for example, really comes from Wales.

Setting out its plans for its own scheme, it states: “GIs recognise the heritage and provenance of products which have a strong traditional or cultural connection to a particular place. They provide registered products with legal protection against imitation, and protect consumers from being misled about the quality or geographical origin of goods.

“Significant GI-protected products from the UK include Scotch whisky, Scottish farmed salmon, and Welsh beef and lamb.”

5. A plan to keep planes flying in and out of the UK

One of the top concerns has been that if no deal is reached aviation could come to a halt.

The White Paper says: “The UK will explore options for maintaining reciprocal liberalised access through an Air Transport Agreement. This would permit UK and EU carriers to operate air services to, from and within the territory of both the UK and the EU on an equal basis.”

6. You could still use the EHIC card when travelling in the EU

In a bid to prevent it becoming more complex to access healthcare when in the EU, the UK Government “wants UK and EU national to be able to use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive healthcare should they need it while on holiday.”

7. The Welsh Government would be prevented from giving companies “anti-competitive subsidies”

A key question is how much freedom each government in the UK will have to support local industries. The White paper says the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will enforce rules.

It states: “The Government has made clear that it is committed to continuing the control of anticompetitive subsidies by creating a UK-wide subsidy control framework. The CMA, which is a world leading competition authority, will take on the rote of enforcement and supervision for the whole of the UK.

“The Government will continue working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, when in place, to ensure the new framework for state aid works for in whole of the UK.”

8. Big questions remain unanswered about the relationship between the Welsh Government, the UK and the EU

The White Paper gives little detail on the relations between the different UK governments after Brexit – or what will happen if decisions made by the Welsh Government lead to conflict with the EU.

However, there is an acknowledgement that relations between the UK and devolved governments will have to change.

The White Paper states: “[The] future relationship would be consistent with the UK’s commitment to deliver for the whole UK family, including the devolved administrations, and the Governments of the Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies.”

9. A ‘governing body” would oversee the new relationship

The White Paper envisages “a Governing Body providing political direction and a Joint Committee to underpin its technical and administrative functions”.

This governing body would “meet biannually at leader level, including at least once between the UK Prime Minister and the heads of state and governments of the Member States of the EU as well as the presidents of the EU institutions”.