A trade deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU. We look at whether it works for consumers and what it means for you.
The deal was announced by officials just before 3pm.
This means that the UK will avoid much of the disruption associated with a no-deal Brexit.
However, after 31 December you should expect a number of significant changes.
Which?, as the UK’s consumer association, is analysing the deal to explain what it means for you, and whether it’ll work for consumers in the long term.
- Find out more: Brexit news and advice from Which?
Is the deal good for consumers?
To work for consumers, a deal, whether with the EU or other nations, must pass the four tests we outlined back in 2018 in our Consumer Charter for Brexit.
Deals should not have a negative impact on safety and quality standards, product choice, consumer rights and prices. We’ll explain below how the deal fared against our tests.
If you’re in a rush you can jump to the sections on ‘what it means for you’:
To properly analyse the deal, we need to look beyond the headlines, at the actual deal text.
We’re still working through the deal text, so please check back on Tuesday 29 December for updates.
In the meantime, you can find advice on Brexit-related issues here, and advice on coronavirus-related issues here.
What do we know already?
The EU has confirmed that no tariffs will apply to goods entering or leaving the UK.
This should mean there are no immediate price rises for food and goods, as had been feared.
Flights to the EU should continue to operate as normal (COVID-19-related disruption excepted).
You won’t need a visa to visit the EU for up to 90 days.
What does the Brexit deal mean for product quality and safety standards?
It’s essential that you can have confidence in product quality and safety standards.
Current levels should be maintained and where appropriate enhanced, and this shouldn’t be compromised where we negotiate deals with countries that may have lower standards.
We’re currently working through the hundreds of pages of dense legal text that make up the deal- please check back for updates.
What does the Brexit deal mean for product choice?
New deals give the UK the the opportunity to bring you greater choice in the products you buy.
A key test for our post-Brexit trade policy is whether it maintains or enhances consumer choice of high quality products and services.
We’re currently working through the hundreds of pages of dense legal text that make up the deal- please check back for updates.
What does the Brexit deal mean for consumer rights?
When we spend our money on products and services we are all protected by a range of consumer rights, and if things go wrong you need to be confident you are supported by a system that ensures these rights continue. This stability is important for businesses as well.
We’re currently working through the hundreds of pages of dense legal text that make up the deal- please check back for updates.
What does the Brexit deal mean for the cost of shopping?
We know that price and cost are important, so post-Brexit policy must limit the potential for unnecessary price rises and increases in the cost of living.
We’re currently working through the hundreds of pages of dense legal text that make up the deal- please check back for updates.
Are there other trade deals being negotiated?
Now it has left the EU, the UK is negotiating deals with several countries, which also need to pass our tests.
These include the USA, Australia and New Zealand; a deal with Japan has already been agreed in principle.
Click here to read more about trade deals and how they affect you.
Where can I read more about the deal?
We’ve put together a Brexit hub, which brings together all our advice when it comes to shopping, money and travel.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/12/brexit-deal-what-it-means-for-food-prices-consumer-rights-and-more/