Trade Policy and the European Union
The UK as part of the European Community joins together with other Member States in a customs union with common arrangements for imports from and exports to third countries.
The United Kingdom, as part of its membership of the European Community, has agreed to join with other Member States in a customs union with common arrangements for imports from and exports to third counties. These common arrangements are decided, discussed, agreed and administered through the Community’s ‘Common Commercial Policy’ (CCP).
The CCP establishes uniform principles between all Member States governing EU Trade Policy including; changes in tariff rates, the conclusion of tariff and trade agreements with non member countries, uniformity in trade liberalisation measures, export policy and instruments to protect trade such as anti-dumping measures and subsidies. For example, by maintaining the Common External Tariff, any product entering the Community will be subject to the same tariff rate whether it enters through a port in Italy, in Portugal or in the UK.
Where issues which affect the Community's CCP are being discussed in international fora, all Member States co-ordinate on policy in order to present a cohesive Community external policy. In the multilateral World Trade Organisation negotiations, the Commission speaks on behalf of the Community and its Member States.
