Dave Beans

Trouble is, is that I've heard that sort of thing a thousand times before..I'm a fussy git..

Members of the WTO will continue to put in disputes towards the UK until it installs border checks, especially in regards to psytosanitary products et al.

From the WTO... For the purposes of this Agreement a customs territory shall be understood to mean any territory with respect to which separate tariffs or other regulations of commerce are maintained for a substantial part of the trade of such territory with other territories....What's between customs territories?

They are called "customs territories" within WTO..

Again they cannot force us to erect a barrier...If we don't, then other WTO members will put in disputes, and this will lead to sanctions on our exports.

I'm not making an "argument"...I'm just showing you how the WTO works...You're making the assumption of punishments et al. in reality, you need borders for third countries to operate within the WTO system. If you sign up to the WTO, then you agree to abide by the consequences of not fulfilling your third country obligations.

The WTO is "policed" by its fellow members. It cannot force a state to erect a border. However, if a member doesn't abide by the rules that they agreed to during its accession, then the dispute settlement process comes into play if another member makes a complaint. More links... https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org3_e.htm https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org1_e.htm

I can do famous...Just over two years ago, I was next to him in a shop in Prestatyn..

In that link.. Speaking to Parliament’s Exiting the EU select committee, Lamy said the UK’s decision to leave the customs union and Single Market, “will necessitate a border. “There will have to be a border because you need to check the goods and the people. “You have to check, if there are duties, that duties are paid.” He added: “I don’t see any solution with no border at all.” http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=86685 Therein lies the enigma. The UK imports goods from all over the world and, apart from EU goods, applies border controls of varying sophistication, as well as the "official controls" on animals and foods, and other products. But once we leave the EU, to us, EU countries have to be treated the same as all other countries with which we trade, under exactly the same terms. ----- The WTO non-discrimination requirements mean that, if we apply no checks to EU goods at the Northern Irish border, then we cannot apply them anywhere else. It really is as simple as that. ------- Furthermore, the consequences of breaching WTO rules are not to be sneezed at. Any country adversely affected can complain to the WTO dispute panel and, if its complaint is upheld (by the appellant body if necessary), it can be allowed to impose sanctions on UK exports. The highly damaging effects would, most likely, make heavy inroads into UK trade, with significant impacts on GDP.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/irish-border-brexit-wto_uk_5a9564efe4b0699553cc7ac6

If say Cambodia was allowing products from Laos in, unchecked, another member of the WTO would complain, saying that they would be getting an unfair advantage. The WTO has to treat each state within it the same - known as MFN. Most favoured nation. For instance, the UK (or whoever) couldn't lower tariffs for one, without doing it for every member. If the UK doesn't erect a border, it would have to allow all goods from every country in to world, into the country, not just from the EU. You may find this interesting (or not)... https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm The EU can discriminate, as it an RTA, a regional trade area. These take precedence over regular WTO members..

Cambodia at the WTO.. https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/factsheet_cambodge_e.htm There doesn't seem to be any disputes where Cambodia are not adhering to WTO rules.. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_by_country_e.htm

The EU would dictate that ROI would need to erect a customs border. The WTO would also tell the UK to erect a border on the UK side..If the UK didn't comply, then they would be sanctioned under WTO.

I always get a pre-MOT...That highlights any issues beforehand, rather than getting any nasty surprises after the event.