WESTERN EUROPE

The purpose of the UK government’s Notices is to set out relevant information in order to allow businesses and citizens understand what they would need to do in a “no deal” scenario. However, it recognises that until a Withdrawal Agreement is signed and ratified by both the UK and European Parliaments, there remains the possibility that the UK may leave the EU without a deal in March 2019. More

Under WTO-only rules, Hong Kong companies with their business hubs in the UK that wish to circulate their goods elsewhere in Europe would have to prove they meet all of the EU’s product standards and regulations. This will be costly for, and cumbersome on, traders. More

On 12 July 2018, the UK government published a White Paper setting out its plans for a future relationship with the EU. Two areas will be of special interest to Hong Kong businesses: the UK’s proposal for a new free trade area, including a common rulebook for goods and a Facilitated Customs Arrangement (“FCA”), and the UK’s commitment to “open and fair competition”, meaning “high regulatory” standards in the areas of competition, state aid, environmental, and labour policies. More