by Suban Abdulla
LONDON (Reuters) – Nine in 10 British manufacturers still face problems trading with the European Union (EU) and difficulty hiring skilled workers due to Brexit, according to a survey which highlights the lingering effects of Britain’s exit from the EU bloc.
While Great Britain signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU in December 2020, allowing it in principle to be exempt from customs duties, Make UK, a federation of British manufacturers, notes that 90 % of British companies believe that these agreements have not removed all the obstacles to trade with the 27 member states of the bloc.
“Since Britain left the EU, businesses have had to deal with new ACC regulations, as well as disruption around the world caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stephen Phipson , managing director of Make UK, who conducted a survey of 219 manufacturers.
Three years after the end of the free movement of employees between the two blocs, access to qualified EU personnel remains a problem for British companies, the survey also indicates. 44% report difficulties in this area.
Make UK believes the UK needs to work with the EU to simplify customs formalities, establish an exchange program to improve the export of goods between the UK and the EU, and facilitate access to EU workers to alleviate skills shortages.
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is however under pressure to implement one of his five main commitments relating in particular to the reduction of migratory flows before the legislative elections next year, in which the Labor Party is given the winner in opinion surveys.
The British government announced tougher visa measures on Monday to reduce the number of migrants arriving legally in the country, which unions and businesses say will create more difficulties.
Despite delays and problems with customs formalities, almost three in four UK businesses export to the EU, according to the Make UK survey.
(Reporting Suban Abdulla; French version Claude Chendjou, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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