LONDON (CU)_The British government has sought to respond to claims that exports to the EU had slumped since the Brexit transition period expired on December 31.
On Christmas Eve, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he had secured a last-minute Brexit deal, under which, he insisted that there will be no “non-tariff barriers” to trade with the European Union. However, exporters continue to grumble over increased inspection protocols and burdensome extra form-filling, as well as the shortage of customs agents to smooth the process.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, the Observer revealed that Britain’s volume of exports to the EU fell by a staggering 68% last month, which has been reported to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove by the Road Haulage Association following a survey of its international members, and has called for an “urgent intervention” by the government.
However, Whitehall sources wholeheartedly deny these claims, insisting that freight flows were up to 95% or even 100% on some days in January, while the RHA argues that in many of these cases, lorries were travelling back empty from the UK to the EU.
“We don’t recognise these figures at all,” a Cabinet Office spokesperson, said. “We know there are some specific issues and we are working with businesses to resolve them.”
A government spokesperson on the other hand said “as a responsible government”, Whitehall had made “extensive preparations” for a wide range of scenarios at the border, including the reasonable worst case.
“Thanks to the hard work put in by hauliers and traders to get ready for the end of the Brexit transition period, there are no queues at the Short Straits, disruption at the border has so far been minimal and freight movements are now close to normal levels, despite the Covid-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson added.
Nevertheless, Richard Ballantyne, the chief executive of the British Ports Association, has verified the figures reported by the RHA, saying they were “broadly in line” with his experience since New Year.
