Britain's EU exports to face mix of tariffs, regulations post-exit

This is a Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 file photo of British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, speaks with Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, during a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels.
This is a Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 file photo of British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, speaks with Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, during a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels.

LONDON -- Is it cod or haddock?

That's the sort of question that will matter to Britain if it leaves the European Union's tariff-free single market and ends up operating under rules overseen by the World Trade Organization.

A complete divorce would see the EU impose tariffs on an estimated 15,000 goods, in no uniform way: some British exports, such as pharmaceuticals, would face no extra charge but the majority would.

How big the tariffs are will depend on a complex series of factors. So cod and haddock may sit side by side in your average British "fish and chip" restaurant but they are classified differently by the EU -- cod would be slapped with a 12 percent tariff and haddock 7.5 percent.

And the list goes on and on.

According to a recent analysis from Civitas, a London-based economic think tank, the average tariff on British exports to the EU under World Trade Organization rules would be around 4.5 percent.

It's a scenario that many experts, including from the ranks of those who backed Britain's departure in June's referendum, say would be a worst-case scenario for British businesses. That's why the pound has fallen any time Prime Minister Theresa May's comments point to such an outcome.

The issue is heating up as May plans to start by the end of March the formal talks to leave the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other EU leaders have repeatedly warned that Britain cannot retain access to the single market if it wants to control the immigration of EU citizens. May's repeated focus on the need to control borders suggests Britain won't be able to remain a member of the single market.

Britain would trade on the rules devised and policed by the Geneva-based WTO, which has 164 members and is responsible for the vast majority of global trade.

Under WTO rules, Britain would not be able to trade with its former EU partners on terms that would be any more advantageous than other countries that do not have trade agreements with the EU, such as the United States.

Most British exports to the EU would be subject to the EU's Common External Tariff, meaning that -- all other things being equal -- most British goods would instantly become less price-competitive in the EU.

Goods entering Britain from the EU would also be subject to tariffs, suggesting the sides would be inclined to agree on a new trade deal to lower the tariffs again. Free trade deals typically take years to negotiate, though.

It's not just about tariffs. Certain standards and regulations would still have to be met by British businesses if their products are going to make it to the European marketplace. The EU has limits on foods containing genetically modified products, for example.

Under WTO rules, Britain's trade relations would closely resemble those that currently exist between the U.S. and the EU.

The two sides trade under conditions that the WTO describes as "most favored nation" status. It facilitates some trade but does not eliminate tariffs across the board.

So U.S. motor vehicle manufacturers pay a 10 percent tariff on most passenger cars. But minibuses can face a 16 percent charge while snowmobiles face only a 5 percent tariff.

It's the same story across other sectors: There are about 15,000 different classification codes for goods. Tariffs on fish would vary not only depending on the species but also whether it's traded alive, fresh, frozen or filleted.

While the World Trade Organization option ensures that Britain gets back control of its borders and regains its ability to set regulations and taxes, many critics say it would diminish the country's trade and lead to bigger falls in national income than other exit scenarios. Philip Hammond, Britain's treasury chief, has said the World Trade Organization option would "not be the most favored outcome."

And since services are not regulated by the World Trade Organization, Britain's crucial financial services could be seriously hurt because professionals would lose the automatic right to work anywhere in the EU.

As a reflection of investor concerns, the pound has shed around 20 percent of its value since June's vote to leave the EU. It's now trading around $1.22, compared with $1.50 on the day of the vote. Less than a decade ago, the pound was flying high above $2.

Business on 01/14/2017

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