BC UK
Saved by @Jacobtldr

Better late than never. Here we go. What does this deal mean for borders, border formalities, customs & trade facilitation?

Long one. TL:DR very little at the moment but has potential

/1

 Borders
When compared to no deal the deal changes very little in terms of border procedures. All formalities and checks will still be required.

Reminder - we're not starting from 0 here – both our container ports and our ro-ro ports are already congested

/2
On top of that, all the issues related to border readiness: lack of capacity and space, IT systems not ready, shortages of customs agents, treader readiness – have not been solved.

The deal doesn’t help with that.

/3
Here is where we are:
☑️The UK will phase-in border formalities over 6 months (customs and SPS)
☑️The EU will introduce full formalities in 3 days (customs + SPS)
☑️Irish Sea border also fully operational in 3 days with some short-term SPS easements

/4
Pre-notifications (safety & security declarations) not initially required on the UK side, needed for imports into the EU.

So what's in the deal?

/5
Anti-smuggling and safety&security checks according to each side’s criteria but signs of cooperation and data exchange.

Not much of that going on on the UK's side anyway in the first 6 months.

/6
Customs cooperation
The text is actually very good. Covers standard provisions plus elements from the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. It’s comprehensive and encouraging.

Plus we have a Protocol on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters

/7
(Side note - further case in point that a Mutual Administrative Assistance agreement is not the same as a trade deal and can be signed with or without one)

/8

https://t.co/QRsegE8Zm9
Non-committal language of the chapter in practice means that there is potential for deeper cooperation e.g. “consider developing joint initiatives” but no obligation.

This is in line with what we normally see in such chapters.

/9
For example 👇 from the UK’s initial proposal - a pilot for joint customs offices.

Again, plenty of scope for deeper cooperation but not initially.

/10
Ro-ro ports

Helpful language but less than in the UK's initial proposal. The EU did not commit to the proposed 2h time-limit for clearance.

/11
Pre-lodgement, advanced processing and exchange of information.

/12
Customs procedures
Full or simplified (deferred - UK). The key difference here vs no deal - no tariffs, provided that rules of origin are met. A quick explainer on how this will work below.

/13

https://t.co/Z4FJHbIebO
Simplified procedures
Interesting provision. Both parties already have simplified procedures and have previously committed to introducing the ones they don't currently have. So this is not technically new. But perhaps there is scope here for something more. Eventually.

/14
AEO and mutual recognition.
This is good. Still not that many benefits of having AEO but mutual recognition is helpful.
Commitment to allow SMEs to qualify but not many SMEs are able to given the current criteria.

/15
The only thing is, as I have often pointed out - to get mutual recognition our AEO programme needs to be compatible with EU's AEO.

Meaning total revamping of UK's AEO programme isn't happening. We can't diverge that much

/16
SPS
Little if any changes vs no deal in terms of what needs to happen at the border.
Not much on SPS in general. Read more 👇 from SPS expert.

/17

https://t.co/tWsjD2gHeF
Northern Ireland
Nothing in the deal but having a deal, in theory, means managing of the Irish Sea Border will be easier. With the new trusted trader programme and more than a light-touch approach to RoOs it should be easier.

/18
To sum it all up – in 3 days border procedures will look pretty much the same as they would under no deal. In terms of customs – obviously no tariffs (hello origin).

In the future, who knows, plenty of scope for deepening customs cooperation.

/19

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1. Scotland's independence rested on the UK staying in the single market - that is why we saw repeated Brexit related litigation in the Scottish courts.

2. If an independent Scotland wished to join the EU, a hard border between Scotland & England would be required to protect the single market & prevent migrants using Scotland as a route into England.

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1/8 Britain is in almost complete lockdown. Nine months since the first. Europe is closing its borders to the British. Across Europe the pandemic is worsening. The US has over 300,000 dead. Far from getting better, the situation in the West is getting worse. The West has failed.

2/8 At what point will the West wake up to the fact this is an historic crisis of Western government, society and culture? Without a vaccine, the West has shown that it cannot deal with the virus. It has been forced to admit defeat and live with it. And it is losing the battle.

3/8 The West likes to think it is cosmopolitan. Wrong. It is increasingly provincial in its mentality. East Asian societies have conquered Covid-19. We barely even acknowledge the fact. We desperately try to ignore that China has succeeded where we have catastrophically failed.

4/8 If the West was cosmopolitan it would seek to learn from East Asia, ask why it is successful. Yet the worse things get, the less curious the West has become about East Asia. This is the story of the West as a failing, self-absorbed, inward-looking culture and civilization.

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The DUP is literally entirely at fault for the Irish Sea Border.

Its MPs held the balance of power when the crucial decisions were made, and cast the defining votes which made sure there would be one.

Let us just remember...

1/6

Shortly after the Referendum a DUP MP went on the radio to say there were no checks and the Norway-Sweden border.

He refused to apologise and accept this error even when he was shown pictures of the checks...

2/6

Another DUP MP then *visited* the Norway-Sweden border and argued the UK-Ireland border could be just like it.

Again, she was told clearly that it would only be like it if the UK were as close to the EU as Norway is.

*She then cast votes to make sure it wouldn't be.*

3/6

DUP MPs were then warned *during a parliamentary debate* that too great a distance from the EU could lead to food shortages.

One literally replied: "We'll just go to the chippy".

4/6

The DUP was also constantly warned that any regulatory border for goods would apply in the Irish Sea, because it is easier to apply these things where vehicles are already naturally stopped. Over and over and over again it was told this.

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Below Picture is not original, as we cannot take photos inside temple.
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Rig Ved 1.36.7

To do a Namaskaar or bow before someone means that you are humble or without pride and ego. This means that we politely bow before you since you are better than me. Pranipaat(प्राणीपात) also means the same that we respect you without any vanity.

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Surrendering False pride is Namaskaar. Even in devotion or bhakti we say the same thing. We want to convey to Ishwar that we have nothing to offer but we leave all our pride and offer you ourselves without any pride in our body. You destroy all our evil karma.

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We bow before you so that you assimilate us and make us that capable. Destruction of our evils and surrender is Namaskaar. Therefore we pray same thing before and after any big rituals.

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तं घे॑मि॒त्था न॑म॒स्विन॒ उप॑ स्व॒राज॑मासते ।
होत्रा॑भिर॒ग्निं मनु॑षः॒ समिं॑धते तिति॒र्वांसो॒ अति॒ स्रिधः॑॥

Translation :

नमस्विनः - To bow.

स्वराजम् - Self illuminating.

तम् - His.

घ ईम् - Yours.

इत्था - This way.

उप - Upaasana.

आसते - To do.

स्त्रिधः - For enemies.

4/9

अति तितिर्वांसः - To defeat fast.

मनुषः - Yajman.

होत्राभिः - In seven numbers.

अग्निम् - Agnidev.

समिन्धते - Illuminated on all sides.

Explanation : Yajmans bow(do Namaskaar) before self illuminating Agnidev by making the offerings of Havi.

5/9
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