Clearview National April 2020 - Issue 221 | Page 87

BUSINESS
GGF’s Brexit Guidance
Enters Transition Period
» FOLLOWING THE GGF’S
Government funding for the Brexit Readiness
Campaign for the Glass and Glazing industry,
the GGF will now use the communication
channels it has set up to ensure that companies
receive up-to-date, accurate and expert
guidance to help them cope with the Brexit
Transition period.
THE TRANSITION PERIOD
The UK left the European Union on
31st January, marking the beginning of the
11-month Transition Period.
During the Transition Period, the UK will
remain in both the EU Customs Union and
Single Market, meaning that there will be no
changes to the previous trading relationship,
including free movement. However, UK and
EU negotiators will seek to agree a new trading
relationship during the Transition Period.
The Transition Period is due to conclude
on 31st December, but it could be extended if
both UK and EU agree to an extension before
1st July 2020. The GGF will continue to work
with Government and will relay any changes
throughout the Transition Period.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU
Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier set out
their respective opening negotiating positions
for the future trading relationships in early
February. The statements confirmed that the
EU will pursue a close trading relationship,
while the UK will seek to diverge considerably
from current arrangements.
Key issues for the companies in the glass
and glazing industry
TRADE ARRANGEMENTS
Trade arrangements for goods travelling
between the EU and UK will be discussed in
negotiations between the two parties.
• If the two sides are unable to reach an
agreement on the trade of goods before the
end of the Transition Period, EU/UK trade
would be subject to tariffs and additional
VAT under WTO rules. This would also
necessitate additional paperwork, in the
form of import declarations.
• If the sides are able to compromise on
the issue of regulatory alignment, tariffs
could be avoided.
‘receive up-to-
date, accurate and
expert guidance’
The GGF will provide further updates on
likely implications of the trade negotiations for
the glazing sector throughout the year.
STANDARDS
Agreements on environmental and labour
standards after the Transition Period will be
subject to negotiation and will be directly
related to discussions on the trade of goods.
The EU is aiming for alignment in these areas
in exchange for free movement of goods and
the UK is aiming to diverge from current
standards.
For construction products standards,
Government has published legislation that
mirrors the current EU Construction Product
Regulation (CPR) 2013, meaning that there
will be no changes to standards required for
construction products imported from the EU
if no agreement is reached.
The GGF will continue to monitor for
updates relating to changes to standards
that will impact on the sector in the coming
months.
SKILLS
When the UK leaves the EU Single Market,
free movement of labour from within the
EU will end and the UK will adopt a new
immigration system, under which there will
be no distinction between EEA and non-
EEA citizens. The Government has asked the
Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to
consider how a ‘points-based’ immigration
system could be introduced from 2021. The
GGF had input to the response on the MAC
Consultation last year.
Currently, there are two types of visas for
non-EEA citizens:
• Tier 1 “exceptional talent” visa: highly
qualified people who need to be endorsed as
a leader or emerging leader, but do not need
a job offer - capped at 2,000 offers a year.
• Tier 2 visa:
• Applicant needs to match exact criteria,
including having a job offer with a
minimum salary of £30,000.
• Lower salary threshold if the applicant
is on the so-called Shortage Occupation
List.
The MAC published its recommendations
in January, including:
• Government should lower the threshold
for the salary needed by someone with a
job offer from £30,000 to £25,600.
• Government could expand this way
of entering the UK by increasing the
number of points awarded to those with
the most desired skills.
• The new immigration system should
lower the criteria for Tier 1 applicants.
A lower salary threshold would be beneficial
for the glazing industry, as it would enable
more medium skilled workers to qualify.
Government will consider the advice of the
MAC before introducing legislation on the
new immigration system later this year.
To find out more please visit the GGF Brexit
Hub https://www.ggf.org.uk/brexit-hub/
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