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The UK has agreed that no items can enter Gibraltar besides after Spanish checks as a part of its deal to take away border controls for folks transferring between the 2 territories, based on British and European officers.
The Rock’s airport shall be nearly totally closed to cargo, and vehicles and ships might want to cease at Spanish customs close to the border, mentioned a European Fee official.
The British territory may also elevate its gross sales tax from 3 per cent to a minimum of 15 per cent inside three years of the deal’s ratification to keep away from unfair competitors with Spain the place VAT is greater, the European official added.
The Gibraltarian authorities have backed the deal since nearly all items already enter by land, the European official mentioned, and the modifications will permit its residents to journey unhindered to Spain and to work in bordering areas.
A UK official confirmed that Gibraltar had accepted the phrases on gross sales tax and that items imported to the territory shall be checked and cleared by EU customs officers in Spain. A Gibraltar official didn’t instantly remark.
There shall be exemptions from checks for specific merchandise, comparable to vehicles which are imported, refitted and exported once more — a key section of the Gibraltarian economic system. It can even be potential to ship items with a cease on the close by Spanish port of Algeciras for checks.
