Call to act as firms complain of delays at borders
THREE OUT of five manufacturing firms are suffering “significant” disruption because of border delays since the UK severed its links with the European Union at the start of the year, new research suggests.
Make UK called on the Government to find an urgent solution to the problem, which it said was caused by complex paperwork post-Brexit.
A survey of almost 200 firms by the manufacturing organisation found that three out of five were being hit by supply chain disruption, either importing or exporting to and from the EU.
Companies were also struggling to prove the UK origin of their goods in order to qualify for zero tariff access, said the report.
Make UK said customs paperwork urgently needs to be simplified on both sides of the border, so it can be completed and checked quickly before haulage journeys begin.
Its report said: “The increase in paperwork and red tape at the borders has led to substantial delays for trucks, with many left stranded across the continent because of incorrect paperwork.”
Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, said: “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.
“We are encouraged by recent constructive contact with government to tackle these issues and that they looking to boost the number of customs agents.
“But 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.
“The deal as it stands also fails to provide for mutual recognition of professional qualifications which will pose a very significant problem for many industries as movement of key personnel to carry out work in the EU will be much more restricted.”
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss insisted yesterday that “we’ve always been clear” that trading with the EU after Brexit “would involve processes”.
Asked what she says to small businesses dealing with the reality of post-Brexit trade with the bloc and finding themselves on the brink of bankruptcy, she told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC: “We’ve always been clear that trading as a third-party country would involve processes, the similar processes that you have for trading with the United States or Japan or any other countries.”