EU could consider UK joining pan-Europe customs deal, says Sefcovic

The European Union could see the UK joining a continent-wide commercialized agreement, arsenic Sir Keir Starmer’s Government seeks a reset with the bloc, an EU commercialized main has indicated.

Maros Sefcovic, who led post-Brexit negotiations for the EU, told the BBC the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) is “something we could consider”.

The PEM allows for tariff-free commercialized of goods crossed Europe, arsenic good arsenic immoderate North African and Levantine nations.

Some concern groups person backed the UK joining PEM arsenic it would assistance to support analyzable proviso chains, but the erstwhile Conservative Government chose not to prosecute it arsenic portion of a post-Brexit commercialized agreement.

Speaking to the BBC astatine the World Economic Forum successful Davos, Switzerland, Mr Sefcovic said the thought had not yet been “precisely formulated” and that the “ball is successful the UK’s court”.

The UK Government has begun consulting with businesses connected the benefits of the PEM program and however it could assistance chopped reddish portion and amended trade, the BBC said.

Mr Sefcovic besides told the broadcaster helium would similar to spot the anticipation of a full-scale veterinary statement betwixt the EU and UK reviewed.

If UK nutrient and workplace products were fixed azygous marketplace treatment, helium said it would mean “we would person to person the aforesaid rules and we person to upgrade them astatine the aforesaid time, we telephone it dynamic alignment”.

The deficiency of a veterinary statement aft Brexit has been a large sticking constituent for UK nutrient businesses hoping to export to Britain’s nearest neighbours.