British businesses will be required to treat EU nations as "third countries" in the event of a no deal Brexit, declaring all imports from the continent and paying customs duties, The Telegraph has learned. The Brexit Secretary will today publish around 20 technical papers setting out plans for a no deal on areas including customs, health and farming after clashes in Government over concerns that they make leaving the EU without a deal look like "Armageddon". One of the most contentious papers will be on customs and excise. According to industry sources it states that British businesses will be required to apply the same customs procedures as they do "when importing goods from a country outside the EU". According to an industry source the notice states: "This means that for goods entering the UK from the EU an import declaration will be required. Customs checks may be carried out and any customs duties must be paid."
Firms in the UK must deal with neighbouring countries in the same way as those from outside the bloc , according to one of around 20 technical papers published by Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab . In one covering customs and excise , the EU states UK businesses are " required to follow the same customs procedures as when importing goods from a country outside the EU " . Raab said in the aftermath of a no - deal Brexit , the EU " would take unilateral action to ensure that there is as much security as possible " .