UK will be a third country says Irish Customs

Carol-Ann O’Keefe, Assistant Principal Officer at Revenue Commissioners (Irish Customs), told business leaders in Ireland that it is inevitable that Brexit will generate additional costs, administration, and delays at Irish ports but much is being done by Irish authorities to minimise these.

Irish goods exporters and importers are being advised to expect delays at ports, whatever form of Brexit the British government negotiates, be that soft, hard, or no-deal.

“Once Brexit occurs, and Britain leaves the EU, it will be classed as ‘a third country’, outside the single market,” said O’Keefe. “It doesn’t matter what kind of customs union is in place, or whether there is a free-trade agreement. After Brexit, full customs declarations will be required for all goods imports and exports shipped between Ireland and the UK.