Sunday, February 07, 2021
Empty trucks due to customs bureaucracy
Great Britain hardly exports to the EU anymore
Opponents of Brexit feel confirmed: The movement of goods between Great Britain and the EU is not only stalling – according to the association, there are hardly any exports from the island to the mainland. Experts warn that the situation could become even more dramatic in summer. London rejects that.
According to a survey last January, exports from British ports to the EU fell by 68 percent compared to the same period last year. This emerges from a survey among the international members of the Road Haulage Association, which the "Observer" reported on. Association boss Richard Burnett had drawn the British government's attention to the problems in a letter and complained that despite numerous warnings, his industry had been largely ignored for months.
Although the corona pandemic is also causing significantly less trade, the association blames the formalities and controls resulting from Brexit for the drastic decline. Quite a few trucks were left empty on the return trip to the continent as many British companies temporarily or completely suspended their exports to the EU. The approximately 10,000 customs employees who have to deal with the new formalities are just a fifth of the staff that the logistics association estimates would be necessary.
London: "We don't recognize the number"
According to the report, the British Ports Association confirmed the massive slump in exports. The government, on the other hand, rejected the figure: "We do not recognize this number of exports. Thanks to the hard work of logisticians and companies to prepare for the changes, disruptions at the border have so far been minimal and freight movements have been minimal despite the Covid-19 Pandemic close to normal, "said a government spokesman.
Trade experts pointed out that it was not yet clear what part of the corona pandemic would have and what problems could be resolved over time and stimulate trade again. In addition, the freight volume cannot be equated with the value of the exported goods.
The trade problems could intensify in the summer, however: Great Britain will not control imports from the EU until July, until then a transition phase will apply.
With the end of the Brexit transition phase, trade between Great Britain and the EU has become considerably more complicated: Although most products are not subject to tariffs thanks to the trade pact negotiated at the last minute, forms and health checks lead to considerable delays and uncertainties for companies.
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