TARIFFS announced by the UK government last week in the event of a no-deal are not legal under WTO rules, the EU’s farm commissioner Phil Hogan has said.
Speaking at a press conference following Monday’s
“I believe that these particular proposals are illegal under WTO rules – and the fact that the UK used the word ‘temporary’ means they probably accept that as well.
“I would point out also that the EU, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, will be introducing our external tariffs as well,” he added.
Mr Hogan also fielded a question on Ukraine’s poultrymeat exports at the session, saying “The EU is preparing an amendment to the free-trade agreement that we have with Ukraine to limit imports of a new type of poultry cut.”
It is widely understood that closure of the loophole that allows a certain cut of breastmeat to be imported into Europe tariff-free will be in exchange for a dramatic increase in certain quota categories between Ukraine and the bloc.