‘Brexit border plans may be vulnerable’

POLITICS: Boris Johnson’s Brexit border plans may be vulnerable to a World Trade Organisation challenge, the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has warned in a leaked letter in which she raised concerns over smuggling, says the Business Insider website.

BORIS JOHNSON’S Brexit border plans may be vulnerable to a World Trade Organisation challenge, the International Trade Secretary has warned in a leaked letter in which she raised concerns over smuggling.

Liz Truss wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove expressing her “key areas of concerns” on Wednesday, according to the Business Insider website.

In the email she reportedly warned the UK would “be vulnerable to WTO challenge” over its border policy by temporarily giving the EU preferential treatment in the absence of a trade deal.

Mr Gove backtracked last month over plans to immediately introduce full border checks when the transition ends on December 31 and instead said Britain would phase in changes over six months.

But Ms Truss was said to have asked for “assurances” that the UK will deliver full border controls at ports by July next year and that plans are in place from January “to mitigate the risk of goods being circumvented from ports implementing full controls”.

Ms Truss also reportedly warned of angering Unionists in Northern Ireland by delivering the “high-risk” dual tariff system on all imports to the nation on January 1.

“This is very concerning as this may call into question NI’s place in the UK customs territory,” she said, according to the report.

The Government did not deny the letter’s veracity, and a spokesman added: “We do not comment on leaks.”

Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Rachel Reeves, the Leeds West MP, said: “This email confirms fears that several Ministers have been making things up as they go with a lack of awareness of the real world consequences of border policies they’ve had four years to develop.

“At the General Election, people were promised an ‘ovenready’ deal to be implemented by the end of this year, not chaos, confusion and a further risk to jobs.”

The Prime Minister’s full border operating plans are expected to be published this month. It comes as the European Commission said there remain “significant divergences” between Brussels and the UK on a post-Brexit trade deal following “informal” talks in London.

Michel Barnier crossed the Channel this week for what he deemed a “useful discussion” with Boris Johnson’s Europe adviser, David Frost, as the pair attempted to inject movement into UK-EU trade talks.

But Brussels said there were still issues blocking a deal despite the EU’s chief negotiator’s trip. “A number of meetings took place in London this week, as set out in the addendum of the terms of reference,” said European Commission

spokesman Daniel Farrie at a briefing with journalists yesterday. “The EU is acting constructively and in good faith, as (EU chief negotiator) Michel Barnier pointed out earlier this week, ‘We are working hard to overcome the significant divergences that remain between us’.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman that the visit gave a “constructive opportunity for David (Frost) and Michel Barnier to meet in a more informal way ahead of the specialised sessions”. He said the pair discussed “goods and services, fisheries, governance, the level-playing field and law enforcement” while Mr Barnier was in London.

This confirms fears that Ministers have been making things up.

Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Rachel Reeves.