Brexit: Problems grow at UK ports with backlogs and delays

Brexit: Problems grow at UK ports with backlogs and delays

By Faisal IslamEconomics editor

Publishedduration56 minutes ago

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British retailers are concerned at new trade barriers being applied after last month's trade deal with the EU.

Many traders now believe they will be paying taxes on exports and imports of certain types of food and clothing that are not fully made in Britain.

There are also signs that they are struggling with new paperwork requirements following the post-Brexit deal.

Some parcel companies have suspended road deliveries to Europe as a result.

Britain sealed a trade deal with the European Union (EU) on 24 December that was billed as preserving its zero-tariff and zero-quota access to the bloc's single market.

But major retailers that use the UK as a distribution hub for European business could face possible tariffs if they re-exporting goods to the EU.

"Tariff free does not feel like tariff free when you read the fine print," Marks & Spencer's chief executive Steve Rowe told Reuters.

"For big businesses there will be time-consuming workarounds but for a lot of others this means paying tariffs or rebasing into the EU."

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents more than 170 major retailers, is working with members on short-term options and is seeking dialogue with the government