KopTalk.com Forums Brexit and the chequers agreement ?

I thought it was only a no deal that would mean physical borders? The backstop as I understand is to prevent a hard border for Ireland in the event that we can’t agree a trade deal within a certain period after we’ve left with a deal?

But who the fukk knows with all this ball hang?

There is no law that says you need to have a hard border with physical checks WTO rules only say you need an effective border. Also the backstop would guarantee a hard border and such a measure is only a temporary measure holding the whole of the uk in a customs union until such time as new arrangements can be agreed. So you don't have to be in a permanent customs union to avoid a hard border. Otherwise the British government would be campaigning for a permenant customs union which they are not.

Yes, the backstop means no hard border because you will be aligned with the EU tariffs and regulations, same as in a customs union. That's the whole debate, should the UK have it's own trade tariffs and regulations and therefore have a trade border (like Switzerland) with the EU including ROI or be in a or some sort of customs union.

I don't even think no deal would put up a phyisical border. For starters who would put it up ? Britain ? Ireland ? The EU? donald trump ? Donald Duck ?

The Irish border trade is tiny and can easily be accommodated by trusted supplier and spot checks by the tax authorities just like happens today

But the backstop only kicks in if we can’t agree a trade deal within a certain time. Until then there won’t be a hard border between NI and ROI. As far as I can tell it’s only a no deal that would put that physical border there.

There is no law that says you need to have a hard border with physical checks WTO rules only say you need an effective border. Also the backstop would guarantee a hard border and such a measure is only a temporary measure holding the whole of the uk in a customs union until such time as new arrangements can be agreed. So you don't have to be in a permanent customs union to avoid a hard border. Otherwise the British government would be campaigning for a permenant customs union which they are not.

I don't know what's a hard or soft border, but I am talking about a border to allow customs checks

A hard border is a physical checkpoint stopping your car and a customs officer with a pencil and clipboard questioning you or searching your vehicle. That is not necessary to check customs rules and it's silly it's being put forward as a political weapon. Especially since the trade over the border (south vs north) is minuscule. Just small amounts of aggregates and farm produce.