BREXIT
Cutting the Brexit burden
Ten years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, businesses are being urged to look forward rather than reopen old arguments over Brexit. But with more than half of UK exporters saying the current trading relationship is making it harder to do business, the British Chambers of Commerce says the Government must now turn promises of a closer relationship into practical action.
A decade after the Brexit referendum, the political arguments surrounding Britain’ s departure from the European Union may have changed, but for many businesses the consequences remain a daily reality.
Customs paperwork, VAT, regulatory requirements, moving staff across borders and navigating European supply chains are among the issues exporters continue to face.
And according to the British Chambers of Commerce( BCC), the experience of businesses suggests there is still significant work to do.
Research published by the organisation found that 54 percent of UK exporters believe the current trade deal with the EU is making it harder to export.
Just 16 percent said the current arrangements were supporting them to grow.
It is not a new phenomenon. The BCC says its research has shown a consistent picture since it began tracking the impact of the UK’ s new trading relationship with the EU in 2021.
Now, ten years after the referendum of June 23, 2016, the organisation is calling on the Government to set out a clear plan for reducing the burden on businesses.
For an economy such as Staffordshire’ s, with its strong manufacturing base and businesses operating in international supply chains, what happens next in the UK’ s relationship with its largest trading partner has particular significance.
A question of alignment
One of the biggest questions facing policymakers is how closely UK rules should align with those of the European Union.
For businesses, the BCC’ s findings suggest there is considerable appetite for greater alignment where it makes trade easier.
Its latest data found 55 percent of UK exporters believe aligning with EU rules on products would help their business.
Only 18 percent said it would hinder growth.
That does not necessarily mean businesses want to reopen the fundamental political questions surrounding Brexit.
WILLIAM BAIN
Instead, the BCC argues that firms increasingly want practical solutions which remove unnecessary barriers to trade.
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:“ Businesses have been put through the wringer since Brexit, as the costs and complexity of trading with the EU have soared.
“ There is insufficient recognition and debate over the damaging effect on trade and growth this has caused. The Office for Budget Responsibility puts the long term hit to the UK’ s economic growth at four percent. continued on page 74
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