Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth
I'm disappointed that a clear-headed person such as yourself becomes an explainer on behalf of the EU. They are obviously enforcing their rules, we all know that. It's early days and if we get the grace period extension, we can complete development of the front end systems that will make conformance easier.
But I do hope that you're not also revelling on the EU's behalf of the really true colours displayed in last week's Article 16 fiasco.
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If the EU were treating us differently from other third countries, then I think we would have reason to complain but if not, what's the issue? If the EU showing their 'true colours' in applying their rules, that certainly not be a surprise, the EU is a rules based organisation Not everyone seems to think that, they think we are being punished by the EU.
I think there has been a degree of not recognising what the SM and CU gave us and that has only become clear now we are not part of it. It's the non-tariff barriers that are causing the pain. I'm not sure what the answer is - do we concentrate on customers with lower non-tariff barriers/standards going forward?
The whole article 16 thing was a mess, I agree. Trade heads got involved without consulting on the political ramifications. Happily it was nipped in the bud before it was enacted. I have read a good explainer as to why it happened by Tony Connelly, an Irish journalist and it was due to the fudge that is the Irish agreement and I kind of get it but the response, in Tony Connellys word himself 'was a horrendously disproportionate solution, sledgehammer meet nut etc, and we've seen the fall out'