45% of Firms Facing Difficulties Trading with EU Under Post-Brexit Trade Agreement

• 45% of firms in a new survey reported difficulties adapting to changes in rules for buying or selling goods brought about by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), while 15% reported that this was easy
• Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said they faced difficulties of buying or selling services, while 14% found it easy
• 1 in 5 (20%) reported difficulties moving people while 8% found it easy
• The BCC also launched a report alongside the survey which explores solutions to the issues

New data released today from a survey of 981 businesses carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce has thrown sharp focus on the impact the UK-EU trade deal (TCA) is having on UK firms one year from its implementation. 

The figures show rises in the proportion of firms reporting difficulties with the various changes brought about to UK-EU trade compared to when BCC last asked the same questions in January.

The BCC has concurrently launched it’s ‘TCA – One Year On’ report, which explores the experiences of businesses with the new trade relationship over the past year, and ways in which that could be improved in the short, medium and long term.

Of the firms who reported that they have faced difficulties in adapting to changes, the survey followed up by asking what the specific problem was. The more than 400 business case studies we collected showed that while problems are occurring across a wide range of areas, the following areas were consistently referenced:

• VAT requirements such as the need for a fiscal representative and delays or returned goods despite VAT being paid
• Additional customs procedures and checks requiring additional paperwork and causing delays
• New rules of origin requirements which have required some firms to change production processes or audit complex supply chains
• Difficulty recruiting staff due to EU workers returning home (Covid is cited as another cause for this)
• The rules of the Northern Ireland Protocol causing increased costs and administration for businesses in Northern Ireland and Great Britain
• The loss of equivalence in areas such as financial services, medical devices, and certification marking has caused increased costs and a loss of competitiveness to EU firms

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“These results, especially when compared to our data from January, give us a strong indication of the experiences on the ground for businesses who are dealing with the changes to the UK-EU trading relationship. While the data does suggest, one year into the implementation of the deal, that trade is becoming more difficult rather than smoother, we do believe there are solutions which can improve conditions for our import and export businesses.

“These data certainly do illustrate that the issues with the TCA are not ‘teething problems’ but more structural defects that, whilst fixable, if not attended to will lead to long term damage to our import and export sectors.”

“Businesses want political leaders on both sides to move on from the debates of the past and find ways to allow them to trade more freely. The Government have ambitious goals for the UK export sector, which we share, and if these are to be met then we must improve the experience of firms trading with our nearest and largest trading partner.

“We hope that these figures, along with our report detailing the experiences of businesses and suggesting ways forward, will provide an opportunity for an honest dialogue about how we can improve our trading relationship with the EU. Government needs to ensure that our importers and exporters can fully play their part in the UK’s economic recovery by unleashing their ability to trade as freely as possible with European markets.”