Fact checks around imports, exports and trade figures
Europe
The EU’s customs union was first established in 1968 by the six founding member states of the current EU (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). Read
Europe
The Port of Dover has previously said that between 1% and 3% of lorries arriving at Dover are not from the EU, but we haven’t been able to confirm the source of the figure. Read
Europe
Just over half of UK exports were done via EU trade agreements in 2016. 43% of exports went to EU member states. Read
Europe
Trade across the Irish border was worth at least £5 billion in 2016. Read
Economy, Business & Finance
The UK runs a trade surplus with the USA and a deficit with the EU. Read
Europe
Although the EU’s GDP is growing, it is at a slower rate than the rest of the world’s. Read
Europe
Higher tariffs make what we buy from other countries more expensive. Read
Europe
The Department for Exiting the EU has today set out the government’s hopes for the UK’s future customs arrangements. Read
Europe
The EU's food standards arm says there are "no safety concerns" with the process of washing chicken with chlorine, but has raised other concerns about hygiene. Read
Europe
It’s technically possible for a non-EU member to be in the single market. But this arrangement means accepting rules set by the EU. Read
