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New regulatory frictions causing disruptions in trade with the EU are an “obvious and inevitable” consequence of Brexit and can be expected to be permanent, said former Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
While some “glitches, problems and breakdowns” caused by the introduction of new paperwork could be expected to clear up in the coming weeks and months, other things have “changed forever” as a result of the UK’s decision to leave. the European Union. Said Mr. Barnier.
And he indicated that the United Kingdom will not be able to rewrite the structural changes that have led to controls on agricultural exports and the confiscation of truckers’ packed lunches. Financial times: “This agreement will not be renegotiated, it must now be implemented.”
His remarks came as the government came under fire in the House of Commons for the damaging impact of Boris Johnson’s trade deal on the UK fishing industry, and Conservative MPs, including the party leader in Scotland, spoke out on the “serious concerns and frustrations” of fishermen. .
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said a patron in his Moray constituency had discovered that the value of his catch had fallen to “half what he needs to cover his costs” as a result of the deal and demanded compensation.
Conservative MP for St Austell and Newquay Steve Double said Cornwall fishermen were “very disappointed” by the deal and feared they would “benefit little” from it.
Other MPs complained of a “flood of paperwork” and “cumbersome red tape” that fishing companies face.
Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael described the situation as “a disaster.”
“For years this government has promised our fishing industry a sea of opportunity, but today our ships are moored in port, their propellers damaged by Whitehall-made bureaucracy,” said Mr. Carmichael.
But Environment Secretary George Eustice dismissed the difficulties facing fishermen as “initial problems” and blamed European bureaucrats for some blockades.
“A lot of these are pretty trivial, about where the seal is,” he told the Commons. “We have even had questions about the color of the ink used in the forms, the pagination, the way the pages are numbered, etc.”
Mr Eustice told MPs: “We are watching very closely with the industry on this matter. We have meetings twice a week with all the key stakeholders, all the key sectors to help them understand these issues.
“Yesterday we had a meeting with the Dutch officials, earlier this week we had a meeting with the French, on Friday we had a meeting with the Irish to try to solve some of these initial problems.
“They are only initial problems, once people get used to using the paperwork, the goods will flow normally.”
But Barnier said some things have “changed forever” as a result of the UK’s political decisions in negotiating the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
“There are obvious, unavoidable, mechanical consequences when you leave the single market and that’s what the British wanted to do,” said the negotiator, who is now believed to be planning a relaunched career in French politics.
Barnier warned that Brussels will be “vigilant on all fronts” in monitoring the implementation of the agreement in the United Kingdom.
He expressed concern over Britain’s decision to grant a temporary authorization for the use of a pesticide banned in the EU because it is suspected of being harmful to bees.
And he noted that the Johnson deal gives the EU the right to impose tariffs and quotas on UK exports in retaliation for the excessive divergence of Brussels rules and regulations.
While the divergence between the EU and UK rules was a natural consequence of Brexit, “you have to be careful. . . otherwise there will be consequences in terms of continuing to export duty-free and quota-free to our market, ”said Mr. Barnier.
“Pesticides affect public health, the health of farmers, farm workers and consumers. Depending on where you set the threshold in that area, it can also have an impact on competition and competitiveness. “
