Business Brexit Taskforce
08 November 2021
BEAMA CEO, Howard Porter, recently represented UK manufacturers of technology products at the latest Brexit Business Taskforce meeting (03/11/2021), chaired by HM Paymaster-General Michael Ellis MP. The other business organisations represented were CBI, FSB, BCC, IoD, MakeUK, ABPI and Logistics UK. The main focus of the meeting was on the DIT’s newly introduced Export Support Service https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-team
The Export Support Service aims to provide guidance to businesses on dealing with customs and border processes in exporting goods, initially for EU trade but planned to expand to cover other global markets in due course. The key messages conveyed by Dr Porter on behalf of manufacturers were that:
- It was positive to have additional support from Government for exports;
- The more practically focussed this support could be, the better;
- Simply directing to existing guidance documents would be of limited assistance;
- Specific assistance with real-world situations would often be needed;
- Interventions by HMRC where there is confusion over the interpretation of UK-EU Customs rules by EU Member State authorities would be of greatest benefit.
In addition, Dr Porter noted that given that the suspension of customs declarations for imports into the UK from the EU would end on 1st January 2022, similar assistance for UK importers would be equally vital. Almost every company that exports goods also imports and the current supply challenges for UK industry will only be made worse if there are delays caused by caused hold-ups once the full range of declarations are required.
BEAMA along with our EURIS trade association colleagues has already had detailed discussions with the DIT lead on the Export Support Service and made these points, along with an offer to act as a clearing house for questions that would potentially affect a range of exporters. If you have points of a general nature relating to difficulties in meeting export and customs rules, send them to [email protected] and we will seek general guidance and assistance for the industry.
