EU, UK Reach Withdrawal Agreement on Ireland Border

The European Union and the United Kingdom endorsed a withdrawal agreement that will keep Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods after the Brexit transition period ends Dec. 31, the EU said Dec. 17. The agreement ensures there will not be a “hard border on the island of Ireland,” and goods sold to and from Northern Ireland with the EU will continue to be treated the same as other cross-border goods within the EU, the European Commission said in a guidance. The guidance also addressed value-added tax provisions of the agreement, trade in specific products, export declarations and how long the provisions will remain in effect.