London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Aug 04, 2026

Brexit: What are the key points of the deal?

Brexit: What are the key points of the deal?

The UK-EU trade agreement, which contains new rules for living, working and trading together, takes effect from 23:00 GMT on 31 December.

The full complicated agreement is more than 1,200 pages long, but here are some of the key points.


TRADE


What the deal says

* There will be no taxes on goods (tariffs) or limits on the amount that can be traded (quotas) between the UK and the EU from 1 January
* Some new checks will be introduced at borders, such as safety checks and customs declarations.
* There are some new restrictions on certain UK animal food products. For example, uncooked meats like sausages and burgers can't enter the EU unless they are frozen to -18C.

What does that mean?

* Having a deal in place means that the fear that some goods could become more expensive has been avoided.
* However, businesses will still need to prepare for new procedures at ports, and if new paperwork is incomplete, it could lead to disruption.

SERVICES AND QUALIFICATIONS


What the deal says:

* Businesses offering services, such as banking, architecture and accounting, will lose their automatic right of access to EU markets and will face some restrictions.
* There will no longer be automatic recognition of professional qualifications for people such as doctors, chefs and architects.

What does that mean?

* Rather than following one set of rules for the whole of the EU, UK businesses will need to comply with the regulations in each individual country.
* It will be harder for people with qualifications gained in the UK to sell their services in the EU. Individuals will need to check each country's rules to make sure their qualification is still recognised.
* However, the UK and EU have pledged to keep talking to try to improve access for the service sector in the future.

TRAVEL


What the deal says:


* UK nationals will need a visa for stays of longer than 90 days in the EU in a 180-day period.
* EU pet passports will no longer be valid.
* European Health Insurance Cards, (EHIC) cards will remain valid until they expire.
* The UK is no longer subject to the ban on additional roaming charges, although both sides will encourage operators to have "transparent and reasonable rates" for roaming.

What does that mean?

* The UK government says EHIC will be replaced with a new UK Global Health Insurance Card, but full details have not been released yet.
* Pets will still be allowed in the EU, but it will be a more complicated process as owners will need to obtain an animal health certificate for each trip they make.
* UK mobile operators will be able to charge for roaming, so people should check with their mobile phone company before travelling.

FISHING


What the deal says:

* Over the next five-and-a-half years, the UK will gradually gain a greater share of the fish from its own waters.
* The UK could choose to ban EU fishing boats from 2026, but the EU would be allowed to introduce taxes on British fish in response.

What does that mean?

* Fishing was the hardest and last issue to be resolved in the negotiation, and some UK fishermen are unhappy with the arrangement. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation, for example, says the deal does not give the UK enough control of its waters.
* Starting in 2026, the UK and the EU will hold regular talks on fishing access. So there could be more heated arguments ahead.

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE AND OTHER DISPUTES


What the deal says:

* There will be no role in the UK for the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which is the highest court in the EU.
* Disputes that cannot be resolved between the UK and the EU will be referred to an independent tribunal instead.

What does that mean?

* Ending the role of the ECJ was a key UK demand as Brexit supporters said it would allow the UK to "take back control" of its laws.
* The ECJ could still have a role in Northern Ireland because it continues to follow some EU trade rules.
* If either side moves too far away from the current rules around product standards, tariffs (charges on imports) could be imposed on some goods in the future.

SECURITY AND DATA


What the deal says:

* The UK will no longer have automatic access to key security databases, but should be able to gain access upon request.
* The UK will not be a member of the EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, but it will have a presence at its headquarters.
* The UK is no longer obliged to comply with EU standards of data protection, but data will continue to be exchanged in the same way for at least four months as long as the UK doesn't change its data protection rules.

What does that mean?

* The UK's arrangement with Europol will be similar to the one the US currently has.
* Many of the rules about storing and processing data still need be decided.

EDUCATION


What the deal says:

* The UK will no longer participate in the Erasmus exchange programme, an EU scheme that helps students study in other countries.
* Students at universities in Northern Ireland will continue to participate in Erasmus, as part of an arrangement with the Irish government.

What does that mean?

* Students that have already started courses in the EU will continue to receive support for fees.
* A new scheme named after the mathematician Alan Turing will begin in September 2021. The government says it will be similar to Erasmus but will include countries across the world.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Reform UK Wants the Royal Navy to Return Channel Boats to France
US and Japan Step In to Support the Yen in Rare Joint Intervention
The AI Pricing Problem: Companies Cannot Predict Their Own Bills
Europe’s Heat and Drought Are Now Disrupting Power, Shipping and Tourism
Apple’s OpenAI Lawsuit Becomes a Public Fight Over AI Hardware
UK Man Jailed After Keeping His Mother’s Body in a Freezer and Claiming £78,000
A SpaceX Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon — and Scientists Hope to Watch
World War II munitions discovered after wildfires in southern France
BP profits reach four-year high amid Middle East conflict
Europe’s Drying Rivers Trigger Power Cuts, Factory Shutdowns and Wildfire Emergencies
UK Driver Sentenced to Four Years for Staged Electric Vehicle Brake Failure Fraud
Conservative Party and Reform UK Face Scrutiny During Clacton By-Election Campaign
Ministry of Justice Reviews Early Release Rules After Public Anger Over Police Killer Cases
NHS Radiographers Report Rising Racist Abuse From Patients Across UK Hospitals
UK Banking Regulators Face Pressure After Customer Loses Fourteen Thousand Pounds in AI Voice Scam
Research Challenges Treasury Control Over UK Public Spending and Calls for Greater Local Decision-Making
Home Office Begins Four-Week Weapons Surrender Campaign Across Major English Cities
Southern England Records Driest July in Nearly Two Centuries as Drought Concerns Grow
Apple Challenges UK Government Request for Access to Encrypted User Data in Legal Fight
BP Reports Sharp Profit Increase as Middle East Conflict Drives Global Oil Prices Higher
Nigel Farage Expresses Openness to Potential Alliance with Restore Britain
AstraZeneca Merger Talks Reflect Intensifying Pharmaceutical Consolidation
University Merger May Set Template for Higher Education Reform
Apple's Legal Challenge Highlights Growing Tension Over Encryption and Surveillance
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Agenda Signals Shift Toward Greater Regional Devolution
Mental Health Trust Faces Criticism Over Planned £25 Million Budget Cuts
Scientists and Cultural Leaders Call for Funding to Save Jodrell Bank Observatory
UK Manufacturing Output Reaches Highest Level in Nearly Two Years
University of Greenwich and University of Kent Complete Landmark Merger
Nigel Farage Unveils Naval Border Proposal Amid Questions Over £5 Million Donation
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Tougher Action on Small Boat Crossings
Apple Challenges UK Government Over Encrypted Data Access Demands
AstraZeneca Shares Fall After Reports of $400 Billion Bristol Myers Squibb Merger Talks
Triple Lock Lifts UK State Pension but Leaves a Wider Retirement Gap
Danube Drought Forces Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Plant Into Full Shutdown
Ceuta Death Toll Rises as Spain and Europe Clash Over Border Response
Cuba’s Grid Fails Again as Fuel Crisis Deepens
Nazca Lines Flight Crash Kills Thirteen as Peru Suspends Aerodiana
Modern Slavery Decisions Broaden the Al Fayed Inquiry’s Frame
FIFA’s Retreat Leaves a Larger Question Over Who Guards the Game
Two Firefighting Crew Members Die in Helicopter Collision West of Athens
Public Sector Automation Through Artificial Intelligence
Regional Investment Beyond London
Protection of Strategic Technology Assets
UK Competition Regulator Blocks Major Foreign Takeover of British Quantum Computing Firm
UK Government Commits Two Billion Pounds to Modernise Northern Rail Network
UK Parliament Approves Planning Reforms to Accelerate Housing Construction on Green Belt Land
Scotland Approves Major Floating Offshore Wind Expansion in the North Sea
United Kingdom and European Union Sign Defence and Critical Minerals Cooperation Agreement
NHS Invests Five Hundred Million Pounds in Artificial Intelligence Diagnostics to Reduce Waiting Lists
×