Brexit: despatches from the downside – No 30
12/04/2024
The stock exchange ‘going down the gurgler’, a ‘hammer blow’ to the food industry, married Britons punished, and some rare Brexit upsides
The UK’s goods trade is lagging far behind the rest of the G7, while services are booming.
An honest assessment of Brexit from Fareed Zakaria of CNN... "On virtually every measure, from business investment to exports to employment Britain is falling behind its peers."
Brexit: despatches from the downside – No 24
01/03/2024
In this week's Brexit downsides, extra food labelling costing up to £250mn, a huge drop in overseas students, veterinary shortages in NI, and more.
Mr Drakeford, who is stepping down next month after five years as First Minister, said Brexit had left Wales a billion pounds worse off and cut off from the rest of the world.
What does ‘Not for EU’ labelling mean? Concern post-Brexit food stickers will deter investment and exports
25/02/2024
The Food and Drink Federation said the 'Not for EU' labelling “poses significant risk to exports”, while polling has shown that Britons would be put off buying food with these stickers.
Almost one in five (18%) have said they are less likely to buy products labelled “Not for EU” which will be a requirement on all British meat and dairy produce from October 2024.
Food businesses sending products to the EU have had to fork out an extra £170m in export costs because of Brexit red tape, with the changes described as being “catastrophic” for some exporters. / Data shows costs have contributed to value of meat exports falling by 17% since 2019.
Global Britain has failed – what next?
16/02/2024
The vision of post-Brexit Britain was one of international trade deals that would propel the country into a new era of prosperity. That vision of “Global Britain” is now dead. Thomas Sampson argues that the only viable alternative is a closer trade relationship with the EU.
Plaid Cymru’s Spokesperson for Trade and Business, Hywel Williams MP, has called for the UK to re-join the Single Market and Customs Union as “a vital first step to improving our moribund economy.”
Businesses that make sporting goods, children’s toys, jewellery and medical goods have struggled the most with the border costs imposed by the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
While the challenges of post-Brexit trade continue to impact businesses what will shape the culinary landscape of the North Highlands – and can the spirit of love endure?
Brexit: a ‘total disaster’ of our own making
07/02/2024
Brexit has caused a crisis for British manufacturers who export into Europe – and things could be about to get even worse...
When former first minister Carwyn Jones blamed Port Talbot job losses on Brexit, some scoffed and said “No, net zero.” But he wasn’t wrong
Jacob Rees-Mogg, once the minister for Brexit opportunities, is still struggling to wrap his head around the realities of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union four years ago this month, as he’s now been properly educated on its impact on farmers during an interview on his GB News show on Wednesday.
City Comment: The rest of the world still does not know what to make of an “independent” Britain… and is largely giving it the swerve.
Salmon Scotland, the trade body that represents the industry, has expressed its frustration over ongoing red tape which has now cost an estimated £12million extra since Brexit.
British businesses are warning of a new wave of post-Brexit trade disruption because EU exporters are not ready for UK customs changes which start this month, and Britain's port infrastructure might be unprepared too.
How has Brexit changed EU–UK trade flows?
01/01/2024
This paper estimates how Brexit has affected goods trade between the United Kingdom and European Union. Using product-level trade flows between the EU and all other countries in the world as a comparison group, we find a sharp decline in trade from the UK to the EU and significant but smaller reductions in trade from the EU to the UK.
Keir Starmer’s party set out ‘new deal’ for sector – as figures show 6,000 farms have gone bust.
Exports to the EU from Scotland slumped by up to 25% two years after Brexit as trade with the rest of the UK rose, it has been revealed. / Scottish Government estimates show that the value of Scotland's exports has slumped by nearly £2bn since the UK exited the EU from £16.950bn in 2019, to £14.970 in 2021 - a 12% drop in two years.
Those sunlit uplands, eh? Another Brexit blow has been delivered to UK exports, and the cheese industry now faces upheaval.
Many UK cheese makers could face 245% duty from 1 January, making exporting unaffordable. / A priceless opportunity to sell “more affordable high-quality cheese to Canada” was one of those many Brexit boons that Boris Johnson championed with his customary blather as prime minister.
A new survey by the British Chamber of Commerce's Insights Unit of 733 businesses (97% SMEs) shows the difficulties facing British firms in using the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) have not eased.