MPs are set to vote on further amendments to the UK Government’s Notification of Withdrawal Bill today, which would activate the Article 50 process of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

 

The bill is subject to scrutiny on key principles of the negotiation process during a third and final reading in the House of Commons before a final vote takes place.

 

Once the bill is passed, it will be debated in the House of Lords and re-debated between the houses (if necessary) before a final reading takes place in time for Prime Minister Theresa May’s expected 31 March deadline to trigger Article 50.

 

The duty free and travel retail industry will keep an eye on any new clauses or schedules related to formulating the expected tariff-free trade treaty between the UK and  the EU, as designated in the priorities in negotiations, and any potential implications that may arise as a result.

 

As reported widely by the UK national press, the vote could expose further rifts between Brexit detractors in Labour and Conservative camps, with the PM already warding off attempts on Tuesday to add ‘conditions’ to the bill.

 

Importantly, an amendment for MPs to have a final ‘meaningful say’ on any deal to exit the EU was decisively struck down by 326 votes to 293 votes yesterday, after Brexit Minister David Jones said there would be a vote on the deal ‘before it is concluded’ and decided upon by the European Parliament, The Guardian reports.

 

Critics of the deal, including some Conservatives, had wanted more than the ‘take it or leave it’ vote on offer, but Downing Street has played down any U-turn in the government’s stance, reports the BBC.

 

As it stands, the government has now cleared two days of debate in the Commons without any amendments to the bill.

 

Last month, the UK Supreme Court ruled by a majority (8 to 3) that only the UK Parliament can set in motion the two-year period of negotiations forming Britain’s exit from the EU, following a challenge to the legality regarding who can trigger the process.

 

‘PRIORITIES IN NEGOTIATIONS’ – A RETURN OF CROSS-BORDER DUTY FREE?

As extensively reported by TRBusiness, the key nub of discussion for travel retail and duty free continues to revolve around a possible restoration of duty free shopping allowances to both EU-bound travellers and inbound travellers to the UK from Europe.

 

Another pressing question remains whether any increase in duty free spending as a result of potentially healthier pricing could offset any possible dip in traveller numbers.

 

TRBusiness reliably understands that any formal exit from the EU Single Market and Customs Union – which would effectively designate the UK as a ‘third country’ – would mean any current UK legislation might need to be rewritten.

 

As a result, any new rules governing hikes or reductions in present duty free allowances both for travellers entering or exiting Britain from and to Europe would likely be subject to revised conditions, with a huge amount of work required to reinstate any return to ‘excise duty free allowances’, as TRBusiness has reported.

 

In November, European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) President Sarah Branquinho pointed out that while the industry is seeking a return to pre-1993 abolition levels, ‘a lot of legislation needs to be approved first by the UK Government in the next two years’.

 

Another separate issue remains the UK’s continued subscription to the European Single Aviation market, with ACI Europe having already stressed the importance of integration between UK and EU aviation markets by safeguarding connectivity and supporting economic development.

 

Arrivals from outside the EU are currently subject to a duty free allowance limit that includes 200 cigarettes, 16-litres of beer and an allowance for other goods worth up to £390 ($488).

 

Currently, there are no fixed limits on alcohol and tobacco that can be brought back into the UK from EU countries, although excessive quantities beyond that for personal use are likely to be questioned (See government guidelines here).