BCC comments on no deal customs announcement

4th February 2019

Commenting on the announcement by HMRC on Transitional Simplified Procedures for customs in the case of no deal, Ronan Quigley, Executive Director responsible for Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: -The priority of business communities across the UK is to avoid a messy and disorderly Brexit on March 29th.

In the unwelcome scenario of no deal, we have been fighting long and hard to avoid prolonged checks at the border and gridlock on our motorways. In the case of no deal, it is reassuring that HMRC are introducing these Transitional Simplified Procedures, which will make importing easier by simplifying the declarations at the border and postponing the payment of import duties that would otherwise be due. -These letters to business are important communications and government must do everything it can to let firms know what they'll need in terms of new documentation to trade with the EU. Many businesses are still in the dark about the benefits of gaining an EORI number in order to maintain continuity of trade if there is no deal these letters help to highlight their importance and the need for traders to take action.