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The European Union Customs Union has a Common External Tariff.

A tax on imports.

Who is the recipient of the funds raised by this tax?

A country outside of the European Union Customs Union may levy its own tariffs and be in receipt of the funds raised.

By joining the EU does a state forfeit control of its share of these funds?

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    Nice question. I suppose it is the country goods are shipped into who is responsible for raising tariffs and will keep the funds, but I've no source to document that hypothesis.
    – Evargalo
    Mar 7, 2018 at 16:36

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Who is the recipient of the funds raised by this tax?

The EU is the ultimate recipient of custom duties, after the country that collects it retains 20% of the amount to cover its collection costs.

By joining the EU does a state forfeit control of its share of these funds?

Yes, except for the above mentioned collection costs bit.

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    @Ben: 13.9% in 2016, including sugar levies (together called traditional own resources). ec.europa.eu/budget/figures/interactive/index_en.cfm
    – chirlu
    Mar 7, 2018 at 18:02
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    Thank you. I am surprised the loss of control of this large income stream was never mentioned by the Leave side in the referendum.
    – 52d6c6af
    Mar 8, 2018 at 11:37
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    @Ben: That's because it's not a large income stream.
    – Denis de Bernardy
    Mar 8, 2018 at 11:54
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    @Ben: Right. But that's across the EU, not specifically for the UK - and knowing the UK barely even registers among the busiest ports in Europe. It's epsilon compared to, say, how much it cost the UK to bail out its banks a decade ago.
    – Denis de Bernardy
    Mar 8, 2018 at 12:27
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    @Ben to suggest that the UK could generate revenue from collecting import duties after leaving the EU would run counter to new free trade agreements mantra of the leave campaign and Brexiteer positions. To simultaneously suggest that being in the EU prevents the UK from engaging in "free trade" and that leaving the EU would allow the UK to keep increased customs revenue, i.e. the trade barrier monies, might have been a contradiction too far.
    – Jontia
    Jun 26, 2018 at 13:46

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