As we reported previously, the UK government has confirmed that it will neither accept nor seek any extension to the Brexit transition period which expires on 31 December 2020. The EU has formally accepted this position.
The UK has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages from 1 January 2021. Controls for importing goods will now apply from July 2021. This means that traders moving goods will have to make declarations at the point of importation and pay relevant tariffs.
HMRC has unveiled a package of measures to accelerate growth of the UK’s customs intermediary sector. This includes £50 million to support businesses with recruitment, training and supplying IT equipment to handle customs declarations. The government also intends to change rules which will remove the financial liability from intermediaries operating on behalf of their clients and allow parcel operators to continue declaring multiple consignments in a single customs declaration.
