Business - EU exit information

Guidance

Now that the UK has left the EU, guidance is being given to advise businesses on what they need to do now.

The latest UK guidance can be found at the following link:

• Moving goods into, out of, or through NI from 1 January 2021

Practical steps to take

There are practical steps which business must take to prepare for the new rules that came into effect on 1 January 2021.

You should:

• use the EU exit checklist - 10 steps to take
• sign up for the UK Government’s free Trader Support Service

and

• sign up for gov.uk updates on post-EU exit arrangements

Advice and support

More information on the advice and support available can be found at the following link:

• nibusinessinfo

InterTradeIreland’s Brexit Advisory Service gives financial support and professional support on customs, supply chain, rules of origin with online learning and specialist webinars aimed at the cross-border market.

• InterTradeIreland 

More information from the UK government is available at this link:

• Moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland

Information and support for NI businesses making, selling or distributing chemicals is available from the Health and Safety Executive NI.

• Brexit guidance for NI businesses after transition period

Trader Support Service

Since the end of the transition period, the way goods move between Great Britain and NI has changed.

The UK government has launched a Trader Support Service (TSS) to help businesses affected by this.

The service can:

• give information and guidance for moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• help with the customs declarations that are now needed for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
• help when sending parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Trader Support Service is free to use. It will guide you through any changes to the way goods move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It can help if you:

• are moving the goods yourself
• act on behalf of someone
• send parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

You can sign up now using the Trader Support Service website.

Exporting to EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries

The UK government has been delivering a programme of work to 'roll over' around 40 EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)  into UK continuity agreements. 

Up to now the majority of these have been agreed. 

Updates to these agreements can be found at this link:

• UK trade agreements with non-EU countries

It's important to note that the agreements with Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are goods only agreements.

You can find more information about trading on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) terms at the following link:

• Trading under World Trade Organisation rules 

How you know what terms you're exporting on

If you're exporting internationally you can check:

• duties and customs procedures for exporting goods

and

• applicable tariffs using the tariff tool

How to raise questions or escalate issues about trading internationally

Businesses should direct international trade enquiries to the EU exit enquiry service.

Also, businesses have access to their relevant UK embassy, high commission or consulate and can seek advice from a local International Trade Advisor working for DIT.

Businesses are also encouraged to report any new or persistent exporting barriers to the UK’s Digital Market Access Service.