Prime Minister hopeful Boris Johnson claims Gatt Article 24 will allow free trade between the UK and the EU post a no-deal Brexit. But the international shipping expert ParcelHero says Gatt 24 can’t be implemented without a deal – making it a Catch 22 situation.
The Conservative Party leadership contender Boris Johnson claimed in a recent BBC leadership debate that Gatt Article 24 would mean no tariffs on goods crossing the EU-UK border. But the international delivery expert ParcelHero says that Article 24 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Gatt) can only apply if all sides agree. And since a no-deal Brexit means there has been no agreement, Gatt 24 cannot apply.
In the BBC interview Mr Johnson said: "There will be no tariffs, there will be no quotas because what we want to do is to get a standstill in our current arrangements under Gatt 24, or whatever it happens to be, until such a time as we have negotiated the [free trade agreement]." Concludes David: ‘In fact, Gatt Article 24 is of no relevance if we cannot agree Brexit terms with the EU by October 31st. Instead - if we crash out without a deal - we will be trading with our EU neighbours under WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules.’