The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed terms on a trade agreement that will enter into force on January 1st, 2021.
Not long after the deal was announced, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted:
With @BorisJohnson we took stock of the negotiations. The conditions for an agreement are not there due to remaining differences on critical issues.
We asked our Chief Negotiators to prepare an overview of the remaining differences to be discussed in person in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/rWCWlMz0dv
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 7, 2020
At an official press conference earlier today, Boris Johnson said: „We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny.” His speech can be seen in full in the video below.
Full details on the deal are yet to be revealed. Therefore, those involved in the road transport and logistics industries will need to wait before they have a chance to see what the deal entails.
The IRU are yet to comment, as are the European Road Haulier’s Association. Logistics UK has said it is optimistic about the agreement being reached:
Logistics UK has reacted with optimism to the Free Trade Agreement reached today between the #UK and #EU, but there is still much to do to get ready. #BrexitDeal #Brexit
— Logistics UK (@LogisticsUKNews) December 24, 2020
The RHA has also commented on the deal. It’s first statement on the matter is as follows:
“There are, of course, many details to be finalised and confirmed but UK traders and hauliers, dependent upon trouble-free access to the Irish Republic and continental Europe will still be hit by vast amounts of new paperwork processes and of course border checks.
“What we do know is that there will be no 10% tariff on new lorries and that is both welcome and a relief..
“However, with only one week to go until the transition period ends on 31 December, it’s essential that we have a six-month implementation period. The British economy cannot afford for UK and EU hauliers and traders to begin 2021 with an ill-prepared journey into the unknown.”
We shall update you on the ramifications of the deal for the logistics industry once the full details of the agreement emerge.
Photo credit: publicdomainpictures.net