Britain’s largest trade union confederation has urged the Labour government to consider rejoining the EU customs union, reopening one of the central fault lines left by Brexit. The call comes against a backdrop of weak economic growth and mounting pressure on the party from its traditional base.
In an interview with The Guardian, Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said London should seek the closest possible economic relationship with the European Union to reduce trade barriers and support household incomes. “The government needs to do everything it can to build the closest possible, positive working relationship with Europe—economically and politically—up to and including rejoining the customs union,” he said.
Britain left the EU customs union following the 2016 referendum and formally exited the European Union in January 2020 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. During a transition period, the country remained aligned with EU trade rules, but it fully departed the customs union on January 1, 2021, when the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. The move restored London’s ability to strike independent trade deals, but it also introduced customs checks, rules-of-origin requirements, and additional barriers for exporters.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far ruled out a return to the customs union, describing it as a “red line,” while at the same time promising a broader “reset” in relations with Brussels. Earlier this month, speaking to MPs, he said: “We are building a closer relationship with the EU across a number of areas, including trade and the economy,” adding: “We have clear red lines when it comes to the single market and the customs union.”