On the 26th November 2018, the President of the Committee for Home Affairs Mary Lowe, signed a Customs Arrangement with the UK Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride MP.
The Arrangement recognises that Guernsey, along with Jersey and the Isle of Man will be treated as part of the UK's customs area and that trade between the Islands and the UK should continue, undisrupted, without Customs tariffs and without new checks at the border.
Committee for Home Affairs President Mary Lowe said:
"In May 2018, the States of Guernsey agreed that the Committee for Home Affairs could enter into negotiations with the UK regarding establishing a future customs arrangement with the UK. The arrangement signed between Guernsey and the UK is a joint commitment which ensures that there continues to be a safe and secure customs arrangement in place and a continued close collaboration between the UK and Guernsey as the UK leaves the EU.
It has taken many months of negotiation between all parties to get to this agreed position and I am pleased to be able to sign this agreement which crucially, will offer continuity and stability for businesses within the Islands whilst respecting our autonomy and fiscal independence.
The arrangement ensures the longstanding constitutional relationship with the UK is maintained, as described in our historic Royal Charters. It is also an important step in securing the extension of the UK's membership of the World Trade Organisation, and will position Guernsey to take part in the UK's network of Free Trade Agreements it will seek when it has control of an Independent Trade Policy. This will help underpin Guernsey's economic prosperity in the decades to come."
A similar arrangement was agreed between the UK and Jersey, and a new arrangement was agreed between the UK and the Isle of Man. This safeguards tariff free trade between the Crown Dependencies as well.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride said:
"These new agreements place our customs relationships on a firm footing for the future, and reflect the shared objective of the UK and Crown Dependency governments to ensure a continuation of our current customs relationships when the UK leaves the EU."
The agreement can be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759122/Guernsey-UK_Customs_Arrangement_final.pdf
