Downing Street outlines third Brexit customs plan

Theresa May has given some details on her new Brexit customs plan, though it has already been deemed “unworkable” by Brexit minister David Davis.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister's “facilitated customs arrangement” offers the best of the previous two disgarded options, a 'customs partnership' and the 'maximum facilitation' plan.

The new plan would reportedly allow the UK to set out its own tariffs on products imported into the country and with technology and the use of “trusted trader” schemes it could be determined where the goods will end up and therefore decide whether UK or EU tariffs should be paid.

Downing Street expects to have the arrangement in place by the end of the transition period in December 2020.

Aside from avoiding a hard border in Ireland, May is hoping the new plan will also keep her cabinet together and avoid further internal fighting. The cabinet are set out to meet on Friday to reach an agreement on it.

It is unclear if the cabinet will back the plan as, according to a Telegraph source, Brexit Minister David Davis had already told May the plan was unworkable.

It is not only the cabinet that May will have to convince, it will also have to be approved by the EU.

The Prime Minister is set to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Thursday to discuss Brexit and might breach the subject of the new customs plan.