Brexit revelation: Trade expert exposes Boris Johnson’s brutal threat to Brussels
THE REASON behind Boris Johnson's Brexit threats, which sparked fears parts of the withdrawal agreement could be undermined, has been revealed by an expert.
Brexit: UK 'committed' to Withdrawal Agreement says expert
Controversy erupted amid reports the UK’s new Internal Market Bill could remove certain legal elements within the withdrawal agreement. Due to the withdrawal agreement having already been agreed by the two parties, EU officials have expressed their concern it could be violated. One expert, however, has explained what the UK’s plan over the withdrawal agreement may actually mean.
Commenting today, Sam Lowe, senior researcher for the Centre for European Reform revealed the UK is not attempting to “renege” on the agreement.
Although he claimed the UK is not attempting to “renege” on the agreement, he said it is also a "risky" approach.
He said: “UK isn’t attempting to renege on Withdrawal Agreement commitments, rather it is attempting to increase its leverage over EU in discussions on how it should be implemented and interpreted by cementing UK view in domestic legislation.
“So limits on scope of EU state aid rules; removes need for exit summary declaration on NI to GB trade, and UK view on when/how tariffs applied to goods traded from the GB to NI.
“Issues can be resolved as part of trade deal/in joint committee.
“But it’s a risky approach, for sure.”
According to the Financial Times, the UK Government is set to introduce the Internal Market Bill which could remove certain legal elements concerning Northern Ireland in the withdrawal agreement.
A source told the newspaper the move could undermine the agreement which was signed by the Prime Minister in October.
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Crucially, the Northern Ireland protocol was signed in order to stop a return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The Internal Market Bill will be brought to the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The purpose of the legislation is to maintain frictionless trade between the four devolved nations.
It will allegedly determine which pieces of state aid will need to be reported to the EU, while the legislation will also remove the requirement for Northern Irish businesses to complete export summary declarations.
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The accusations the legislation will seek to undermine the withdrawal agreement have so far been refuted by the UK officials.
Environment Secretary, George Eustice insisted the new legislation will clear up certain details on Northern Ireland customs.
He told Times Radio today: “The withdrawal agreement itself and Northern Ireland recognise that there were further points of detail that needed to be ironed out.
“Michael Gove has been leading on that work to resolve some of these technical issues around how tariffs are applied and when it’s right to apply them.”
The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "We are fully committed to implementing the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol and we have already taken many practical steps to do."
As referenced by Mr Lowe, the issue of state aid has remained a point of difference between the two sides.
Michel Barnier has declared the two sides must agree to a level-playing field on the issue.
He fears without such an agreement, the UK could compose more attractive rules on bailing out companies and organisations.
UK officials, however, have stated any level-playing field agreement would entangle the UK into EU legislation.