How the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement Affects Business

This blog was last updated on June 17, 2021

The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was finally agreed on 24 December 2020. A week before the end of the transition period. Fully implemented into UK law, but the TCA remains provisional. It needs to be ratified in the European Parliament. Therefore it applies on a provisional basis until 28 February 2021.

The TCA covers several areas in addition to trade between the EU and UK dealing with investment, competition, State aid, maintaining a level playing field, fisheries and data protection. It was some of these areas that proved to be the most difficult to resolve during the negotiations.

How is the TCA different to the Customs Union?

The TCA provides for trade in goods between the UK and the EU to be on a zero tariff, zero quota basis. However, only if the goods meet the appropriate rules of origin. This reflects the reality that the TCA is not a replacement for the Customs Union. The Customs Union meant that once goods were in free circulation in the EU, they could move from one Member State to another without further payment of customs duty.

The TCA is different, and the origin of the goods is key. There are specific rules on determining origin and a system of self-certification is in place. For example, if goods are of Chinese origin, they won’t be covered by the TCA. So would be subject to whatever rate of customs duty applies in the EU when exported from Great Britain to the EU. This is in addition to customs duty that would apply in the UK based on the UK Global Tariff unless there was the application of an appropriate suspensive relief on arrival into the UK.

Mutual Assistance Provisions 

The TCA also covers mutual assistance around VAT. These mutual assistance provisions may have an impact on the requirement for UK companies to appoint a fiscal representative in those countries where it’s required. However, until Member States formally change their requirements, it’s important that businesses meet their legal obligations as they currently stand.

Failure to appoint a fiscal representative when required may result in penalties imposed for not trading compliantly. In some cases could interrupt commercial transactions to the detriment of both the company and its customers.

The mutual assistance provisions may also have an impact on the requirement for UK companies to appoint an intermediary for the purposes of the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). IOSS is proposed for implementation on 1 July 2021. The EU has a mutual assistance agreement with Norway. This means that Norwegian companies don’t need to appoint an intermediary for the purposes of IOSS. It’s hoped that the EU will extend this to companies in Great Britain.

VAT Position of Trade Between UK and EU

The VAT position of trade between the UK and the EU was largely known before the TCA was signed and is therefore not significantly impacted by the TCA. It was the UK ceasing to be a Member State and leaving the EU VAT area which determined the changes.

As a result, many businesses were able to take proactive action rather than awaiting the finalisation of the TCA. If a business did not take action to ensure ongoing VAT compliance, it’s essential to take the appropriate steps now. Furthermore, if businesses had a Brexit action plan, it is imperative that it’s implemented fully to remove risk.

The presence of a Customs border between the UK and EU means that goods cannot flow freely as they did in the past. Taking the appropriate steps to allow the goods to move is not the end of the story. Ensuring VAT compliance once the goods have arrived in the EU is essential. As is recognising that not all Member States have the same requirements.

Take Action

All businesses should review their current trading arrangements. Business need to ensure they are compliant and also that they’re trading in the most efficient way.