Brexit update
HMRC has published updated, detailed guidance
for the rules of origin for goods moving between the UK and EU.
It is important to understand the impact of the rules and
how they impact a business. Specifically, to ensure advantage is taken of zero
tariffs when dealing with cross-border goods. The rules apply to both imports
and exports and clearly, incurring unnecessary tariffs is to be avoided if
possible.
Background
The UK moved to trading based on a new Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) – the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and the EU
post-Brexit.
To export tariff-free under the TCA, goods must meet the
UK-EU preferential rules of origin. This means that there must be a qualifying
level of processing in the country of export to access zero tariffs. This
applies to EU origin goods imported and moving through the UK from a Member
State to another EU Member State, as well as goods imported from the Rest of
World.
These rules are set out in the TCA and determine
the origin of goods based on where the products or materials (or inputs) used
in their production come from. Their purpose is to ensure that preferential
tariffs are only given to goods that originate in the UK or EU and not from
third countries.