Collapse of trade with EU will ‘last until the summer’[UK]

The Guardian ^ | March 14 2021 | Phillip Innman

[Winniesboy]

Delays and confusion at the UK’s ports threaten to put hundreds of small and medium-sized exporters out of business...and cost the government millions of pounds in lost trade tariffs... 40% of trucks crossing the channel with empty containers..

The collapse of Britain’s trade with the EU will continue into the summer after the failure to recruit up to 30,000 customs agents, despite government assurances that normal service has resumed, industry groups have warned....

The warnings follow the most dramatic monthly fall in exports from the UK to the EU since records began 20 years ago. Exports tumbled by almost 41% as thousands of trucks failed to gain entry to the EU, mostly following customs hold-ups due to a lack of compliant paperwork.

Businesses also reported that a lack of customs agents meant they were unable to respond to orders from customers based in the EU or found their goods were returned at huge cost.

In January, which marked the first month since leaving the EU on terms agreed by Boris Johnson’s government, official data showed that goods exports to the 27-member bloc fell by a staggering £5.6bn, while imports fell by almost 30%, or £6.6bn...

Rod McKenzie, the RHA head of public affairs, said that with 40% of containers travelling to the EU without goods, shipment numbers failed to show the full impact of new Brexit-related red tape at UK borders.

He said the recruitment of customs agents needed to rise by around 30,000 to nearer 50,000 to cope with the extra regulations. “Judging by our own experience of customs agents, they are swamped with calls and turning away business, which is ridiculous when we have had four years to sort this out."

[ClearCase_guy]

It’s kind of like flattening the curve. It will be over before you know it ...

[fruser1]

“40% of trucks crossing the channel with empty containers”

Look under the container.