Government statement on the post-Brexit economy, proposals open for consultation until 13 August

Business Secretary Alok Sharma made a statement in the House of Commons (16/07/20) on the Government’s plans for seamless internal trade for businesses across the  UK once the UK leaves the transition period at the end of the year. These plans are now open for consultation. In summary, the plans propose t
o enshrine two principles into law:

• The principle of mutual recognition, meaning that the rules governing the production and sale of goods and services in one part of the UK are recognised in the other parts of the UK, and should present no barrier to the flow of goods and services between different regulatory systems.

• The principle of non-discrimination, meaning that it is not possible for one regulatory regime to introduce rules that discriminate specifically against goods and services from another.
• From 1 January 2021, powers in at least 70 policy areas previously held at an EU level will flow directly to the devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast for the first time. This will give the devolved administrations power over more issues, without removing any of their current powers.

• Businesses will be given a ‘market access commitment’, guaranteeing that goods and services sold in one part of the UK can always be sold into another.
• The Government will also clarify in law that subsidy control is a reserved matter for the whole of the United Kingdom, and not devolved, meaning the whole of the UK will have one domestic subsidy regime.

He invited devolved administrations to work together on cross-cutting issues such as regulatory standards. Through the common frameworks approach the Government will support regulatory consistency across internal markets.
The proposals laid out in this new White Paper will remain open for consultation for four weeks (until 13 August). I

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