Businesses call for easier EU trade as Brexit red tape persists

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 23:03 · Archive

British businesses are struggling with Brexit bureaucracy and want easier trade with the EU, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

British businesses are struggling with Brexit red tape and want easier trade with the EU, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents thousands of firms across a network of chambers.

A survey of around 1,500 firms found that more than a third said customs paperwork and delays need to be removed in order to grow. This rises to 58 per cent of manufacturers and 56 per cent of exporters. A separate survey by S&P Global found that manufacturing firms were also grappling with longer delivery times because of shipping being rerouted, port congestion, and ongoing disruption to key transport routes caused by global conflict.

Shevaun Haviland, the director general of the BCC, said: 'Firms have shown great resilience in adapting to Brexit, but that adaptation has not removed the costs of paperwork, delays and needless duplication of bureaucracy that it has brought.' She added that the world has changed since Brexit, with protectionism rising and the EU reshaping its industrial policy. 'This is not a binary case of being in or out, there are many different routes we can take,' she said.

The BCC has called on businesses to 'seize the moment' to reassess Britain's relationship with the EU and has begun consulting with tens of thousands of businesses in its network over their views on future trade arrangements.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will attend a summit in Brussels on 20 November where he has pledged to set out next steps for considering the UK's long-term relationship with the EU. He wants to lock in deals on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme at the summit, with further exploration of long-term options beyond that date. Burnham has said the Brexit deal negotiated by the former Conservative government was 'not good enough for Britain' and was 'harder' than what was promised at the referendum.

How it is being reported

• Businesses still struggling with red tape 10 years after Brexit, trade organisation saysThe British Chambers of Commerce is urging businesses to ‘seize the moment’ and reassess the UK’s relationship with the EUThe Independent · 2 Nov, 22:41
• Businesses still grappling with Brexit red tape and want change, says BCCThe British Chambers of Commerce said businesses want trade with the bloc to be easier.Evening Standard · 2 Nov, 22:30
• Businesses still grappling with Brexit red tape and want change, says BCCThe British Chambers of Commerce said businesses want trade with the bloc to be easier.Independent Business · 2 Nov, 22:30

In this story: British Chambers of Commerce · Andy Burnham · European Union · Shevaun Haviland · S&P Global · Brussels

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log