Effect of tariffs as a material burden

Question for written answer  E-006860/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Gunnar Beck (ID)

Regarding the negotiations on a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, Commission President von der Leyen stated on Monday, 14 December 2020, that the important question is ‘if the UK wants seamless access to the EU’s single market’. They are welcome, she said, but ‘they have either to play by our rules, because this is a matter of fairness for our companies in the single market, or the other choice is there is a price on it, and the price is tariffs’.

• 1.Does the Commission President share the view that the material tax burden (incidence) of tariffs is borne largely or, indeed, entirely by customers, i.e. the public and businesses in the EU Member States that purchase goods from the United Kingdom?
• 2.If not, can she point to any research studies indicating that this is not the case?
• 3.Assuming that the Commission has produced no research studies of its own and, indeed, has no basic scientific data available here, what is the rationale for its negotiating position?