Contrasting opinions remain and our future is illusive but one option is guaranteed.
We have been seeing media articles suggesting the temporary movement of goods will be a problem with a no deal Brexit, because nothing has been worked out.
Whilst there will be any number of issues in that scenario, temporary movement shouldn’t be one of them. ATA carnets are regulated under the Istanbul Convention of 1990 and not as such an EU matter.
Even if the UK leaves the the EU customs union and no specific arrangements are made, ATA carnets will remain a legitimate and useful instrument.
Practical Reality
There would be changes, with carnets no longer issued as if the UK were part of the EU. You may require an ATA carnet for temporary export to EU countries, which is not currently the case.
Once within the EU, you would still be in a borderless situation. Moving from country to country should continue unhindered.
The difference is needing to have a carnet, plus certificates to be stamped in and out of the EU. This would bring financial and administrative cost, although wider concerns on costs, or tariffs should be eliminated.
Carnet operation for all categories is well established in EU countries and in most cases, they allow replacements, or extensions if needed. ATA carnets are an understood and developed solution, which is already in place.
Looking Forward
With an ongoing lack of clarity, we can’t know if the UK will remain in the EU customs union, or for how long. Preparing for the possibility of a new approach to temporary exports seems good business planning.
Should there be no deal, the likelihood is that the existing ATA carnet system will be the answer in many cases. Available for most items you could imagine and for shipped, or hand carried, commercial goods.
Financial guarantees customs authorities require are built in and reliable. The system works well for other non EU members, such as Norway.
Even with a no deal, a future UK EU trade deal could bring other options. In the interim, you are welcome to talk to our staff, on how ATA carnets could be used for your business, or see more details on ATA carnets after Brexit.