Post-transition red tape stifling border trade warns Make UK

Complex customs paperwork and bureasucracy has led to critical import export disruption claims the research

This reveals that 60% of companies questioned say they experienced disruption after the transition period ended on 1 January and found their supply chains significantly impacted.

Make UK CEO Stephen Phipson said Government must move immediately to work with European partners to solve the current long border delays.

As well as  disruption importing or exporting to affecting nearly two out of three respondents, nearly a third reported they were having their supply chains impacted in both directions. Companies have had problems too trying to prove the UK origin of their goods in order to qualify for zero tariff access.

Customs paperwork urgently must be simplified on both sides of the border, so it can be completed and checked before haulage journeys warned Make UK, as many businesses are delaying importing and exporting from the EU in a hope that things improve.

“Government needs to move quickly to get around the table with the EU to sort out ongoing delays at the border and Rules of Origin issues which are making business unworkable on both sides of the channel,” warned Phipson.

“Finding a way to simplify customs declarations would mitigate against delays while an agreement on cumulation between the UK and the EU would mean that parts imported from regions outside the EU and the UK – like Japan and Turkey – can be counted towards local content.“

He added that the deal failed to provide for mutual recognition of professional qualifications which will pose “a very significant problem” as movement of key personnel to carry out work in the EU will much more restricted.

“If a company wants to send a service engineer to repair a piece of equipment delivered from a UK company as part of the maintenance contract, they may not be able to carry out the service, as his/her UK qualifications won’t be recognised,” advised Phipson.