The former Chief of Staff to the EU Prime Minister has warned that staying in the EU customs union after Brexit will endanger the prospect of other trading opportunities . Nick Timothy writes that staying in would restrict the UK 's freedom to negotiate agreements with other countries , and cites the example of countries such as Norway , which is in the single market but has remained outside the customs union . However , he argues that to maintain tariff - free trade with the EU and eliminate non - tariff barriers , a " close customs partnership " will be required with regulatory co - operation and a comprehensive trade agreement .
The former Chief of Staff to the UK Prime Minister has warned that staying in the EU customs union after Brexit will endanger the prospect of other trade opportunities. Nick Timothy writes that staying in would restrict the UK's freedom to negotiate agreements with other countries, and cites the example of countries such as Norway, which is in the single market but has remained outside the customs union. However, he argues that to maintain tariff-free trade with the EU and avoid non-tariff barriers, a "close customs partnership" will be required with regulatory co-operation and a comprehensive trade agreement.