Britain’s manufacturers are calling on the UK government to help them ease continued difficulties with the new trading environment and relationship with the EU, which has ramped up costs, caused import and export delays, and is hampering smooth trade as companies struggle to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Make UK's report, titled 'Trade and Cooperation with the EU: Six Months On', the data collected showed that 96 per cent of companies said they have faced challenges since the start of the year with the new trading environment, with nearly half (47 per cent) citing early difficulties with customs processes. This has since eased, as companies’ understanding of the new rules improved.
However, over a third (36 per cent) - mainly small and medium sized companies - said they are still struggling with the new customs procedures and paperwork, with clearance across customs borders posing the greatest difficulty, and more than a quarter...