(18 February 2019) – The European Commission has today stepped up its “no-deal” outreach to EU businesses in the area of customs and indirect taxation such as VAT, given the risk that the United Kingdom may leave the EU on 30 March this year without a deal.
Today’s launch aims to raise awareness amongst the EU’s business community, especially SMEs. In order to prepare for a “no-deal” scenario and to continue trading with the UK, these businesses should:
• Assess whether they have the necessary technical and human capacity to deal with customs procedures and rules, e.g. on ‘preferential rules of origin’.
• Consider obtaining various customs authorisations and registrations in order to facilitate their trading activity if the UK is part of their supply chain.
• Get in touch with their national customs authority to see what other steps can be taken to prepare.
A range of material in all EU languages has today been made available to businesses, including a simple 5-step checklist, providing an overview of the steps that need to be taken.