Brexit: 5 Minutes And A Dozen Questions To Test Your Understanding Of Theresa May's Eu Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
- 1.
Under the Withdrawal Agreement, what happens once the UK has left the EU on 29 March 2019?
- A.
The UK enters into the initial transition period, during which most EU laws will continue to apply in the UK, including the customs union
- B.
The UK regains its sovereignty in full and will trade with the EU on WTO terms, until and unless a free trade agreement is concluded with the EU
- C.
The UK regains its sovereignty in full and a free trade deal negotiated between the EU and the UK comes into effect
- D.
Don't know
- E.
Other
Correct Answer
A. The UK enters into the initial transition period, during which most EU laws will continue to apply in the UK, including the customs unionExplanation
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- 2.
The initial transition period is set to end:
- A.
End of 2022
- B.
End of 2020
- C.
End of 2021
- D.
This is to be agreed
- E.
Don't know
- F.
Other
Correct Answer
B. End of 2020Explanation
The correct answer is "end of 2020." This means that the initial transition period will come to a close by the end of the year 2020.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Once the initial transition period ends, does the EU have the right to prevent the UK’s exit from the EU customs union:
- A.
No, the UK is free to leave at that point, including without a deal
- B.
Yes, the EU has a right to keep us in the customs union indefinitely because the UK may not leave except if an agreement is concluded with the EU. This is the “backstop". There is no longer an equivalent of "Article 50" allowing the UK to exit.
- C.
Do not know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
B. Yes, the EU has a right to keep us in the customs union indefinitely because the UK may not leave except if an agreement is concluded with the EU. This is the “backstop". There is no longer an equivalent of "Article 50" allowing the UK to exit.Explanation
The correct answer is that the EU has the right to keep the UK in the customs union indefinitely because the UK may not leave except if an agreement is concluded with the EU. This is referred to as the "backstop." Unlike during the initial transition period, there is no longer an equivalent of "Article 50" that allows the UK to exit the EU.Rate this question:
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- 4.
A free trade agreement between the EU and the UK will require:
- A.
Consent of a majority of the member states of the EU
- B.
Consent of all of the member states of the EU, giving any of them the right to prevent the UK’s exit from the “backstop” / customs union and single market
- C.
Don't know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
B. Consent of all of the member states of the EU, giving any of them the right to prevent the UK’s exit from the “backstop” / customs union and single marketExplanation
The correct answer is that a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK will require the consent of all of the member states of the EU, giving any of them the right to prevent the UK's exit from the "backstop" / customs union and single market. This means that every member state of the EU has the power to veto or block the UK's exit from the "backstop" arrangement, which is a safety net to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This requirement ensures that all member states have a say in the agreement and can protect their own interests.Rate this question:
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- 5.
All global trade agreements (including the EU’s) always contain clauses allowing each party to withdraw on notice, is it true or false?
- A.
True. It is normal practice to allow any party to exit a trade agreement by giving a period of notice
- B.
False. Countries cannot exit trade agreements once they are agreed.
- C.
Don't know
Correct Answer
A. True. It is normal practice to allow any party to exit a trade agreement by giving a period of noticeExplanation
Trade agreements, including the EU's, typically include clauses that allow each party to withdraw from the agreement by providing notice. This is a common practice in global trade agreements, as it provides flexibility for parties to adjust their trade relationships or pursue other opportunities. The ability to withdraw on notice ensures that parties have the freedom to make changes to the agreement if necessary.Rate this question:
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- 6.
If there is a dispute over any matter relating to the Withdrawal Agreement, will it always be resolved by an arbitration panel made up of representatives of both sides?
- A.
No, questions of EU law will be decided not by the panel but the European Court of Justice
- B.
Yes, UK and EU judges will resolve questions of EU law together.
- C.
Don't know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
A. No, questions of EU law will be decided not by the panel but the European Court of JusticeExplanation
In case of a dispute over any matter relating to the Withdrawal Agreement, questions of EU law will not be resolved by the arbitration panel. Instead, they will be decided by the European Court of Justice. This means that representatives from both sides will not be involved in resolving these specific legal questions.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The UK will pay the initial “divorce” sum of £39 billion to the EU:
- A.
Once the UK has negotiated a legally binding trade agreement with the EU. We pay nothing unless there is a free trade deal agreed with the EU.
- B.
Once the Withdrawal Agreement is approved and before any negotiation of a free trade agreement with the EU
- C.
Don't know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
B. Once the Withdrawal Agreement is approved and before any negotiation of a free trade agreement with the EUExplanation
The correct answer is once the Withdrawal Agreement is approved and before any negotiation of a free trade agreement with the EU. This means that the UK will pay the divorce settlement of £39 billion to the EU only after the Withdrawal Agreement has been approved, and it will be paid before any negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU take place.Rate this question:
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- 8.
While the UK remains inside the EU customs union, during the transition period or later during the backstop, it will:
- A.
Continue to have a say over the EU laws and tariffs to which it will be subject to
- B.
Have no vote or any other decision-making power over any of the EU laws, including common customs tariffs
- C.
Don't know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
B. Have no vote or any other decision-making power over any of the EU laws, including common customs tariffsExplanation
During the transition period or in the backstop, the UK will not have the ability to vote or make decisions regarding any EU laws, including common customs tariffs. This means that the UK will have no influence or control over these laws and tariffs, and will be subject to them without having a say in their development or implementation.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The customs union with the EU:
- A.
Gives the EU tariff-free access for its export goods into the UK market and forces the UK to maintain the EU’s high tariffs against competing goods from other countries
- B.
Gives the EU tariff-free access for its export goods into the UK market, while leaving the UK free to impose lower tariffs against competing goods from other countries such as the USA, China and Japan.
- C.
Don't know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
A. Gives the EU tariff-free access for its export goods into the UK market and forces the UK to maintain the EU’s high tariffs against competing goods from other countriesExplanation
The correct answer states that the customs union with the EU provides tariff-free access for EU export goods into the UK market but requires the UK to maintain the EU's high tariffs against competing goods from other countries. This means that while the EU can freely export goods to the UK without tariffs, the UK is obligated to apply high tariffs on goods from non-EU countries, such as the USA, China, and Japan.Rate this question:
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- 10.
While the UK remains within the EU customs union, economies around the world:
- A.
Are likely to give us free trade deals because the customs union does not prevent us from being able to agree concessions on their goods export
- B.
Are unlikely to give us free trade in our services or exports because we will be bound by EU law and not able to offer concessions in return on their goods exports to us
- C.
Do not know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
B. Are unlikely to give us free trade in our services or exports because we will be bound by EU law and not able to offer concessions in return on their goods exports to usExplanation
The correct answer suggests that while the UK remains within the EU customs union, it is unlikely to receive free trade in services or exports from economies around the world. This is because the UK will be bound by EU law and unable to offer concessions in return on their goods exports.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Art. 184 says that the EU and the UK shall use their ‘best endeavours’ to negotiate a trade agreement in time for the end of the transition. “Best endeavours” means:
- A.
It is extremely unlikely we will be able to leave or force a deal even if the EU has been slowing down negotiations, as the EU will always be able to claim it is unable to agree to the kind of deal the UK wants. Individual EU members could block a deal over issues such as fishing rights or Gibraltar.
- B.
We will be able to leave or force a deal if we can show that the EU has been making unreasonable demands or slowing down negotiations
- C.
Do not know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
A. It is extremely unlikely we will be able to leave or force a deal even if the EU has been slowing down negotiations, as the EU will always be able to claim it is unable to agree to the kind of deal the UK wants. Individual EU members could block a deal over issues such as fishing rights or Gibraltar.Explanation
The explanation for the given correct answer is that according to Art. 184, the EU and the UK are required to use their best endeavors to negotiate a trade agreement by the end of the transition period. However, the phrase "best endeavors" implies that even if the EU has been deliberately slowing down negotiations, it is highly unlikely that the UK will be able to leave the EU or force a deal. This is because the EU can always claim that it is unable to agree to the type of deal the UK desires. Additionally, individual EU members have the power to block a deal based on specific issues such as fishing rights or Gibraltar.Rate this question:
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- 12.
If the EU makes changes to its laws which damage UK industries:
- A.
There are no effective safeguards that the UK may rely on to prevent this
- B.
The UK will have a right of veto or other legally effective safeguards to prevent those changes from applying in the UK
- C.
Do not know
- D.
Other
Correct Answer
A. There are no effective safeguards that the UK may rely on to prevent thisExplanation
The correct answer is that there are no effective safeguards that the UK may rely on to prevent changes to EU laws that damage UK industries. This means that if the EU were to make changes that negatively impact UK industries, the UK does not have any mechanisms or protections in place to prevent or mitigate those changes. This lack of safeguards could leave UK industries vulnerable to potential harm caused by EU law changes.Rate this question:
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