Hauliers warn of chaos at border if France insists on testing drivers

HAULIERS have warned of mayhem on the border if France demands all drivers provide a negative coronavirus test.

Any new freight rules to prevent the spread of the new Covid strain could cause massive tailbacks in Dover, transport chiefs said – ultimately risking shortages on shops’ shelves and on factory floors. Urgent talks are under way to reopen the border after Paris suspended all travel links with the UK on Sunday night, throwing as much as 20pc of Britain’s imports from the Continent into turmoil. However, president Emmanuel Macron is said to have demanded more extensive testing for lorry drivers before they are allowed to enter the European Union. Experts fear this would cause major problems as drivers are forced to wait for their results. Dover handles more than 23m tons of cargo a year and around 10,000 trucks pass through the port every day. Britain and France may reach an agreement over reopening their border by tomorrow lunchtime, the BBC reported late last night.

Chris Evans, a consultant in logistics and shipping at Colliers International, said: “If Covid testing is introduced at Dover the delays will turn those we are seeing from Brexit into a sideshow.”

Customs delays have already been jamming up roads around Dover and other major ports as businesses prepare for Brexit and have to contend with a shortage of shipping containers at sea.

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, declined to say last night if president

Macron was calling for a new testing regime. Mr Johnson i nsisted the Channel port delays only affect a small amount of food and medicine shipments coming to the UK.

However, a significant portion of those goods are fresh fruit and vegetables. These cannot be stockpiled and disruption is likely unless trading resumes swiftly.

Sainsbury’s warned of gaps in the fruit-and-vegetable aisles within days if transport connections with France are not restored, saying there would be shortages of products such as cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and citrus fruit.

Manufacturers also warned of a longer-term impact, with firms struggling to get materials needed for goods.