The U.K. risks failing to recruit the 50,000 customs agents the logistics industry says are needed before Britain’s final parting with the European Union, spelling potential chaos at the country’s busiest border.
Coronavirus: UK shops would have suffered food shortages during pandemic without single market, EU says
04/05/2020
Britain 'fortunate' it had not crashed out of bloc when coronavirus struck, Commission says – even as Boris Johnson vows to do just that if necessary.
The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham-EU) published a cross-sectoral position paper on Tuesday turning the screw on the UK Government’s hard-line negotiating stance. Although it urges both sides to “work to mitigate disruption as much as possible”, the paper deals a devastating blow to Britain’s present strategy.
A "safety and security" agreement removing the need for post-Brexit entry and exit declarations between Britain and the north of Ireland is needed, the freight industry said.
Brexit is killing off music tours in EU and industry may not survive immigration crackdown, government warned
12/05/2020
More than two-thirds of musicians say bookings dried up because of visa red tape and cost – even before coronavirus struck
Junior minister reveals UK officials have confirmed ‘physical posts at ports of entry’ for Northern Ireland.
Ministers’ letter confirms border control posts at ports of Belfast, Warrenpoint and Larne.
Minister says checks on animals and food products will be necessary to maintain island of Ireland’s ‘disease-free status’
Carolyn Fairbairn says many businesses cannot prepare for no deal during Covid-19 crisis.
BUSINESSES should expect more paperwork, bureaucracy and additional costs on trade between the north and Britain when the Brexit transition period ends in seven months’ time...
British minister says North’s businesses won’t need exit summary declarations when they send goods to rest of the UK.
Lorries will need permission from new HMRC computer system before heading for Dover.
HMRC document shows firms in Great Britain will be obliged to complete three types of electronic paperwork.
Council given only hours’ notice of emergency purchase of 1.2m sq ft ‘Mojo’ site.
British travellers face the worst possible outcome once the Brexit transition period ends, the government has confirmed.
Ministers accused of building 'pointless lorry park in Kent' after announcing £700m for trade checks [1 min]
12/07/2020
'This is all so pointless. We are creating a vast customs bureaucracy, with costs passed on to the consumer'
Britain’s plans for its border controls after Brexit will depend on a new and untested IT system being ready in time, according to a 206-page government blueprint that sets out the extra burden businesses will face from the year-end.
For some weeks the British government has been planning a “shock and awe” campaign to warn British businesses that they have less than six months to prepare for Brexit; but the EU has beaten them to it.
Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has defended his plans for new post-Brexit border infrastructure after Labour said the government was unprepared.
Up to 12 post-Brexit customs centres like Kent lorry park to be built to deal with EU exit
13/07/2020
Businesses face 400 million extra customs declarations a year at a cost up as much as £20 billion under government plans.
British companies trading with Europe will have to absorb a post-Brexit bureaucracy burden and fill in an extra 215m customs declarations at a cost of about £7bn a year, according to government officials.
New border checks in Kent and elsewhere reverse 47 years of removal of trade barriers.
Businesses to face billions in customs declarations costs from 1 January under Government’s new Brexit border control plans
13/07/2020
Around 10 to 12 inland posts, five of which will be in Kent, are expected to be required to process goods coming in and out of Great Britain.
The Treasury will not carry out any further analysis of the economic impact of the Brexit trade deal Boris Johnson agrees with the EU or the impact of negotiations collapsing, Rishi Sunak has said.