Commission intensifies 'no-deal' Brexit customs preparedness

In another move that the European Union is preparing for the UK to leave the bloc on March 29 with no exit agreement, the European Commission on Monday stepped up its “no-deal” outreach to EU businesses in the area of customs and indirect taxation such as value-added tax (VAT), given the risk that the UK may leave the EU without a deal.

The outreach campaign is part of the Commission's ongoing efforts to prepare for the UK's exit of the European Union without a deal, in line with the European Council (Article 50) conclusions of December 2018, calling for intensified preparedness work for all scenarios.

This campaign should help to inform businesses that want to continue trading with the UK after 30 March on what they need to do to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. Preparing for the UK becoming a non-EU country is of paramount importance if significant disruption for EU business is to be avoided.