British exporters have expressed a deep frustration in border controls after Brexit, blaming the unclear customs guide, the increase in costs and poor communication of HMRC due to delays in the supply chain and the growing operational stress.
A new report commissioned by HMRC and made by Psos sacrifices one of the first “detailed warts and all” evaluations of the border processes of the United Kingdom since he left the EU. The study, based on interviews with 35 merchants and freight agents, found that, although most informed goods movements are “generally soft”, many also described the system as expensive, opaque and emotionally exhausting for staff.
“Reaching the staff”: Cost and confusion in the first line lines
Several companies described to stay in the dark when their products were arrested on the border, without clear information about who to contact or how to solve the problem.
“A staff member told me that he does not want to work in this area, since” he cannot bear the stress of everything, “he really arrives at the staff,” said a great exporter.
The financial impact of delays was also severe. A medium -sized export agent said: “If you have problems, there is usually a financial fine. Storage rates are quickly intensified. A single fine of £ 600 can eliminate all your profits in a job.”
Several merchants said it was difficult to find precise contact information for HMRC, with a small agent that describes the process of solving problems as “painful” and saying: “They will not tell us. Even finding the rectilin that speaks with three different relevant desks.”
Delays related to the edge and bureaucracy led to logistics uncertainty, which makes it difficult for companies to plan transport schedules and fulffil delivery.
From the hiring of additional drivers to cover fines for lost delivery windows, companies now face a commercial panorama after Brexit plagued by hidden costs and inefficiencies.
Despite the points of pain, several merchants noticed improvements in recent months. One said: “It was chaos after Brexit, but recently, it has been much better.” Another added: “I could have stopped things very slightly occasionally from time to time.”
However, William Bain, Chief of Commerce Policy of British Chambers of Commerce, warned that Ipsos interviews were carried out before the complete import controls of the United Kingdom, including the physical controls of food and plant products were entered into force.
“Customs and border processes remain a daily pain point. That is why we are urging the summit of the United Kingdom leaders to the EU to agree on a robust agreement of agricultural food and discard security statements in both directions,” Bain said.
These reforms, argues Bain, could simplify border processes for companies in the United Kingdom and the EU, especially the SMEs that lack resources to navigate complicated customs regimes.
In a statement, HMRC said: “Companies told us that moving goods through the border was generally a process without problems. We will continue to use comments to expedite procedures, improve guidance and support the flow of legitomate good scinging to simplifications. Effective checks.”
Even so, as the full post-break customs protocols continue to be implemented, many companies feel without preparation and underlying. A great exporter summed up the mood:
“We received customer complaints due to edge delays, but we received many complaints about many things.”
Jamie Young
Jamie is a senior reporter of Business Matters, who brings more than a decade of experience in commercial reports of the United Kingdom. Jamie has a business administration title and participates regularly in conferences and industry workshops. When he does not inform about the last business development, Jamie is passionate about the mentoring of promising journalists and businessmen to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
