UK and EU back Windsor Framework steel access and parcel fee clarity

The UK and EU held a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in Brussels on 10 November 2026. The co-chairs, UK Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations Hamish Falconer and European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, issued a joint statement afterwards. Several points touch on trade and customs for businesses in Northern Ireland.

The co-chairs welcomed progress on the Windsor Framework, including the movement of consumer parcels to Northern Ireland, protected access to steel for Northern Ireland traders under new measures, and simplified operation of duty-related schemes for goods that stay in the UK.

They also agreed to speed up delivery of the safeguards that protect the EU Single Market in all areas. In particular, they will strengthen efforts on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, so that all agri-foods moved to Northern Ireland follow Windsor Framework rules.

The committee welcomed an EU-UK declaration on the application of Windsor Framework provisions. It clarifies that handling fees for consumer parcels will be treated like customs duties. As a result, they would not be paid on goods staying in the UK. Any fees on goods at risk of entering the EU would be collected and kept by UK authorities.

On the proposed addition of the Cyber Resilience Act to the Windsor Framework, the co-chairs agreed to examine all possibilities to keep the Framework working well and to take the necessary decisions in future.

The committee adopted three decisions, covering social security coordination, artificial intelligence and forced labour. It also adopted its Annual Report for 2025.

The statement notes that almost 6 million EU citizens and 1 million UK nationals are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. The co-chairs highlighted the need for a smooth move from temporary to permanent residence over the course of 2027, and committed to step up work on structural issues affecting citizens' daily lives.

Both sides said they would keep working at pace on implementation, with an EU-UK Summit due on 20 November 2026. The next Joint Committee meeting is expected to be the point by which work on the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus should be finalised.