A range of household appliances and foods will be cheaper and consumers offered more choice, ministers say, under a new trade regime set to begin in January.

Britain will scrap all levies on £30bn of imports when formally leaving EU rules at the end of the year, it was announced this morning.

Products such as fridge-freezers, dishwashers and other household goods which are currently marked up by up to 3% will have no tariffs at all.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss says the new regime, which has been under intense consideration, will simplify trade and lower administrative burdens for businesses.

But tariffs will remain on UK-produced cars – at 10% – and on agricultural products including lamb, beef and butter at their current levels, following concerns that these industries could be decimated by Brexit.

These new tariffs will be applied to trade with any country with which the UK has not negotiated a trade deal by the time the transition period ends on 31 December.

The government aims to negotiate a trade deal with the EU this year, but talks have yet to yield a breakthrough.

Ms Truss said today: “For the first time in 50 years we are able to set our own tariff regime that is tailored to the UK economy.

“Our new Global Tariff will benefit UK consumers and households by cutting red tape and reducing the cost of thousands of everyday products.

“With this straightforward approach, we are backing UK industry and helping businesses overcome the unprecedented economic challenges posed by coronavirus.”

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