Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade Customs Practice director, Anna Doherty, responds to news that the date for the UK-EU leaders' summit has been set for 22 July:
“We are glad to hear that a date has now been confirmed for this year’s UK-EU leaders’ summit and look forward to hearing what progress has been made on the pledges made last year – including on the Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area, the linkage of Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) and on youth mobility.
“As ever with trade, the detail matters. While we’ve heard about progress in the SPS negotiations and we know the implementation is due mid-2027, we’re still awaiting information about how this agreement will work in practice including any transitional arrangements.
“There’s been less detail about the ETS linkage, which is becoming increasingly important due to its role in UK and EU exemptions from each other's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM). While the EU CBAM is already operational, the UK’s CBAM is set to enter force from the start of next year adding pressure to supply chains.
“A lot has also changed since last year’s summit, with the greater global volatility making closer UK-EU cooperation on defence and economic security essential, and this ought to be a central theme to the discussions in July.
“Following last year’s summit, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade made a series of recommendations on how the UK and EU can deepen cooperation, including on rules of origin, customs and border processes, and deeper regulatory cooperation.
“We will be monitoring this year’s summit again to see what progress is made in these areas, as we continue to support both sides in finding ways to better facilitate trade.”
