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Brexit: 12 key words you need to know

Getty Images Brexit definition in a dictionaryGetty Images

The UK and the European Union are in talks about how they could live and work together after Brexit.

Politicians use many different terms when discussing Brexit - here is what some of the key ones mean.

1. Brexit

Britain's exit from the European Union.

2. Transition period

A period lasting from 31 January to 31 December 2020, when the UK is no longer a member of the EU, but still follows all its rules.

It was agreed by the UK and the EU to allow both sides time to reach a deal on their future relationship.

3. Free trade

Trade between two countries, where neither side charges taxes or duties on goods crossing borders.

Getty Images Container ship at Felixstowe portGetty Images

4. Free trade agreement

A deal between countries to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, trade barriers such as:

  • Taxes that must be paid when trading
  • Limits on how much of certain goods can be imported
  • Rules on things such as hygiene or labelling of food

5. Governance (of the free trade agreement)

How the agreement between the EU and the UK would be enforced if there is a dispute.

One controversial issue has been about what role, if any, the European Court of Justice should play.

6. Tariff

A tax or duty to be paid on goods crossing borders.

7. Fishing rights and quotas

Rules on who can fish where, and how much of each species can be caught.

Getty Images fishermen in the English Channel, August 2020Getty Images

8. Level playing field

A set of rules to ensure that one country, or group of countries, doesn't have an unfair advantage over another.

This can involve areas such as workers' rights and environmental standards.

Free trade agreements often include level playing field measures.

9. EU state aid rules

EU laws which prevent a government in one country from supporting companies there - over competitors in another country.

This support could be financial - for instance, allowing companies to borrow more cheaply, or charging them less in tax.

10. Withdrawal agreement (and Northern Ireland protocol)

The 2019 agreement which set out how the UK would leave the EU.

It covered:

  • Money the UK still has to pay the EU
  • The rights of EU citizens who already live in the UK and UK citizens in the EU

The Northern Ireland protocol is part of this agreement. It set out special arrangements for Northern Ireland, to avoid the need for checks along the Irish border.

11. No deal

This will be the situation if the UK and the EU don't reach a trade agreement by the end of 2020.

It means that both sides would have to charge tariffs - or taxes - on goods crossing borders.

12. WTO rules

If countries don't have free-trade agreements, they usually trade with each other under what's called WTO (World Trade Organization) rules, where each country sets tariffs - or taxes - on goods entering, and applies them equally to all its trading partners.

The government currently refers to this as an "Australian-style deal".