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Updated Dec 30, 2020

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Brexit trade deal reached

On Christmas Eve a Brexit trade deal was finally struck between the UK and the EU, after months of discussions between negotiators and leaders on both sides.

UK MPs have now voted in the House of Commons to approve the Bill that will bring the Brexit trade deal into UK law, with a majority of 521 to 73 voting in favour, and in doing so avoid a no-deal Brexit.

European governments have also approved and signed the deal, and it will come into effect on 1 January 2021. All of the UK's pre-existing ties to the EU will end on 11pm 31 December 2020.

The agreement is over 1200 pages long, but some key points that have been released are:

  • no extra charges on goods or limits on the amount that can be traded between the UK and the EU;
  • there will be extra checks at borders, such as safety checks and customs declarations;
  • UK will no longer be bound by judgements made by the European Court of Justice;
  • there are reciprocal commitments not to reduce the level of environmental or climate protection or fail to enforce its laws in a manner that has an effect on trade - this includes reciprocal commitments to cross-economy greenhouse gas emission reduction targets;
  • UK and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) have agreed a separate Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA).

There are still areas that need to be clarified relating to post-Brexit trade between the UK and the EU, but these details will be addressed after 1 January 2021.

For more information on what Brexit means for you in terms of legislation, see:


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