The British Chambers of Commerce has called out the Government for lacking Brexit business planning, resulting in UK workforce shortages. After a weekend of fuel supply shortages and retailer Christmans warnings, the BCC made clear in a statement that businesses were suffering the consequences from excluding non-UK nationals from the UK workforce. BCC President, Baroness
The UK is looking at alternatives to strengthening trade ties with the US as the chances of a quick turnaround on a bespoke trade deal look slim. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Washington to meet US President Joe Biden, with the latter saying that a dedicated trade deal is unlikely in the immediate future.
Complex regulations surrounding Rules of Origin following Brexit has seen British businesses pay an additional £600m in customs duties in H1 this year. The UK’s trade agreement with the UK, which was geared towards removing tariffs for all goods, has actually seen costs related to export and import activity increase for a swathe of industries.
A chief executive at Maersk has said that the ongoing shipping crisis won’t end until consumer demand falls. Morten Engelstoft, who manages APM Terminals which is owned by Maersk, said that the sector needed to break out of a vicious circle of high consumer demand married with the ongoing pandemic. He told the Financial Times
Eight months on from Brexit and some of the longer-term effects are starting to be seen in the UK. We have seen shortages of some items on supermarket shelves, fast food chains temporarily closing due to lack of chicken or changing menus as items are not available. The issues have been put down to a
Exports of food and drink from the UK into the EU are in freefall. That’s according to new figures released this month by the Food and Drink Federation, showing that exports to the EU have fallen by over 27% in H1 2021 compared to the same period two years ago. Overall, lost revenue totals around
The huge shortage of HGV drivers in the UK is pushing up pay as hauliers start introducing retention charges on bills. Tensions are said to be rising within the industry with the low numbers of available, trained drivers playing ‘musical chairs’ – something hauliers are looking to head off by adding ‘driver retention surcharges’ of
Exports from Ireland into Great Britain have soared in the first half of 2021 whilst GB exports across the Irish Sea have fallen. According to the Irish Central Statistics Office, exports to Great Britain (excluding NI) have risen 20% in the first six months of the year, rising by over €1 billion to €6.7bn. This
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s landmark report published this week painted a bleak picture for the future of humanity and the planet. There was, however, some cause for optimism. We can halt the ever-warming climate, or at least limit it to below two degrees, but we’ll all have to play our part. The
The UK has signed a new free trade agreement with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, expected to boost trade in a relationship with over £2billion a year. Signed in London earlier this month, the deal with lock-in tariff-free trade and secure greater access for UK businesses. The deal is one of the most advanced that Norway,