I never realised how vital Calais is for UK trade, admits Raab

DOMINIC Raab has admitted he didn’t realise how crucial the crossing between Dover and Calais is to Britain’s trade.

The Brexit Secretary also said shops could face shortages if the country leaves the EU without a deal that prevents trade barriers.

His warning came as the boss of Sainsbury’s yesterday said that customers could face higher prices or less fresh produce if trade is impeded.

Mr Raab, who was appointed Brexit Secretary in July, said ministers were seeking a close relationship with the EU to prevent disruption.

He told tech entrepreneurs in London: ‘I hadn’t quite understood the full extent of this, but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing.

‘That is one of the reasons why we have wanted to make sure we have a specific and very proximate relationship with the EU, to ensure frictionless trade at the border. I don’t think it is a question so much of the risk of major shortages.

‘But I think probably the average consumer might not be aware of the full extent to which the choice of goods that we have in the stores are depend- ent on one or two very specific trade routes.’

More than 2.6million lorries passed through Dover last year. The port handles around 17 per cent of the country’s entire trade in goods, worth an estimated £122billion. Most of the products are ‘just-in-time goods’ such as perishables, medicines and parts for manufacturing.

Mr Raab was mocked by former Remain campaigners, including Professor Brian Cox, who tweeted: ‘How could it possibly come as a surprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market?’

Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe yesterday warned leaving the EU could reduce the supply of fresh produce to Britain.

As he unveiled the supermarket’s half-year results, he said: ‘The realeverything ity is that it’s a challenge in the sense that we currently bring things in from the European Union, about 30 per cent of what we sell…and anything that gets in the way of that will either add cost or reduce freshness. Of course it’s impossible to stockpile fresh food products.

‘We have around 20 very large distribution centres around the country and they carry roughly a week’s stock so you can do your own arithmetic. But we would urge the Government to get to a settlement.’

‘I’ve said throughout I’m a pragmatist and I believe one way or another a deal would be arrived at and it’s important that the Government do that. We’ll do that we can to ensure the continuity of supply under any circumstances.’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday said the Government is building refrigerated capacity so that it can stockpile medicines.

He told ITV’s Peston: ‘Even though yes we think that we will get a deal and I’m confident we will get a deal, we are making sure that we have more refrigerated capacity for medicines.’

But Mr Hancock said the public should not panic about securing prescriptions ahead of the UK leaving the EU on March 29 next year.

‘It’s very important that people don’t go out of their way to have bigger personal stores because the NHS will be supplying unhindered flows of medicines to people in any scenario.

‘That is our clear goal and we are working with the pharmaceutical industry to reach it,’ he said.

Last month, it emerged that Whitehall officials are considering plans to charter a flotilla of ships to bring food and medicine into the country in the event of a ‘nodeal’ Brexit.

Ministers have been warned the route between Dover and Calais could grind to a halt if extra customs controls are imposed on the French side.

Civil servants have been exploring the possibility of bringing vital supplies into other less busy ports using vessels hired by the Government.

‘Dependent on very specific routes’

DOMINIC Raab’s admission that he hadn’t ‘quite understood’ how much trade with Europe is reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing is somewhat surprising at this late stage – and has sparked a barrage of ‘we told you so’ outrage from all those who have been warning the practical complexities of Brexit have been woefully underestimated.

The Mail’s view is that the Brexit Secretary was simply being honest – and admirably so – when he warned congestion at the main route for EU food and manufactured products into Britain would limit choice in the shops.

Indeed, other Brexiteers and Remainers alike could learn much from Mr Raab, an impressive minister who has barely put a foot wrong since picking up the baton from David Davis late in the negotiations. Unlike his predecessor, Mr Raab understands the need to preserve fluid trading arrangements when we leave, and – more importantly – prevent no deal having a catastrophic impact on Britain’s economy.

Though there are signs an agreement may be in the offing in the coming days, Brexit is far from over the line. When it comes to Cabinet, and to getting a deal through the Commons, the Mail hopes his fellow MPs adopt Mr Raab’s sensible and pragmatic approach.