New Customs Rules for a Post-Brexit United Kingdom

March 2019 is coming and importers and exporters need to be prepared for what lies ahead. The UK is leaving not only the EU but its Customs Union.  No longer will imports into a distribution center in the EU cover sales in the UK.  Companies will need to set up logistics to manage UK imports and exports and be compliant with new UK customs regulations.  It is likely that a two year “standstill” or “transition” period will be agreed for the April 2019 to March 2021 period.  Should the UK leave the EU without an agreed deal on trade and customs, however, the UK would be a third country vis-à-vis the EU (now typically referred to as the “EU27” denoting the 28 EU Member States minus the UK) and all imports and exports between the UK and the EU bloc would be governed by WTO rules.