Home Brexit EU’s Brexit extension rejected by David Frost

EU’s Brexit extension rejected by David Frost

by LLB Reporter
28th May 20 4:05 pm

The UK’s Brexit chief negotiator David Frost has told his counterpart Michel Barnier he will not ask for a Brexit extension regardless of the Brexit result.

During Thursday European Union Select Committee meeting, Frost was asked by the EU if the UK will accept an extension request under any circumstances.

Frost replied with, “The government position is pretty clear.

“We are not going to ask for an extension and if the EU asks for one, we will not agree to one.

“I think that is part of the framework now and we are working to an end of year deadline.”

Frost added, “I think the question for the UK is that we have got to balance two things.

“On the one hand, we have got to balance the need to keep talking as long as there is a constructive process happening, which at the moment there is.

“And at some point, we have a need to provide maximum certainty to businesses and economic operators about what is going to happen at the end of the year.”

Labour’s Lord Wood of Anfield asked at what point will the government start talking to businesses so they are ready for the Brexit transition period.

Michael Gove MP answered, “We are engaging with businesses now.

“Businesses will have to be ready for customs declarations and other processes.

“So, the business process of making sure you have custom agent capacity or intermediates who can make sure that those declarations are filled in are pretty much the same come what may.”

He added, “We are anticipating building up more engagement with business for the changes that they will inevitably require.

“If we are outside without a Canada-style agreement there will be the issue of tariffs to be paid on some goods.

“In many respects, while tariffs are significant in some sectors, the biggest bureaucratic challenge is making sure people are ready for being outside of the customs union.”

Leave a Comment

You may also like

CLOSE AD

Sign up to our daily news alerts

[ms-form id=1]