This morning the Minister for Brexit Opportunities announced that the scheduled introduction of even more post-Brexit import checks will be delayed for a fourth time.

New research by the London School of Economics reports that EU-UK imports have fallen by 25% and the number of export relationships has fallen by a third since the EU-UK trade deal was introduced in January 2021.

Responding to the ONS trade statistics for February 2022, and analysis from the British Chamber of Commerce that the UK is not experiencing the same growth levels as “some of our largest trading neighbours”, Hilary Benn MP, Co-Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to a new report published today by the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee which highlights the acute labour shortages facing the food and farming sector caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic, Hilary Benn MP, Co-Convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

The cross-party, cross-business UK Trade and Business Commission today heard that post-Brexit import checks are resulting in less choice and higher prices for UK consumers.

Responding to analysis by the Office of Budget Responsibility that the UK missed out on much of the recovery in global trade after the start of the pandemic, and appears to be a ‘less trade intensive economy’, Hilary Benn MP, Co-Chair of UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee Report warning that post-Brexit trade agreements may not provide any "actual economic benefits", Hilary Benn MP, Co-Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

MPs and business leaders have today outlined a roadmap for the UK and EU to remove continued points of division and barriers to trade as both sides face massive external economic and security challenges.

The UK and EU are facing fresh calls to reduce divisions over the Northern Ireland Protocol in the face of greater common international challenges.

Members of the cross-party, cross-industry UK Trade and Business Commission will visit Northern Ireland on 3rd March to gather evidence from business leaders and port officials on trade under the Protocol.

A new statement from the Treasury suggests that the UK Government has collected no data about how much new post-Brexit import checks are costing businesses.

Today, new ONS figures on challenges facing UK businesses showed that weeks after the introductions of new post-Brexit import checks, a third of businesses reported a drop in turnover, 72% of businesses reported importing challenges and that less than two thirds of transport and storage businesses were fully trading.

Responding to the report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that ‘the only detectable impact’ of Brexit so far is ‘increased costs, paperwork and border delays’ Tamara Cincik CEO of Fashion Roundtable who sits on the UK Trade and Business Commission said,

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have called for stability amid the developing crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol today.

Industry experts have urged the UK government to pursue a more holistic approach to investment in manufacturing, including a nationally sustained programme and long-term strategy, to prevent the sector from becoming a “brain drain” for talent.

Responding to the ONS October trade statistics, Alison Williams, member of the UK Trade and Business Commission and Global Head of Data at DunnHumby, said:

A commission of MPs and business leaders have been warned that triggering Article 16 would turn Northern Ireland into a "backwater" of foreign direct investment, jeopardising businesses, harming consumers and discouraging people in Great Britain from trading with Northern Ireland.

Research experts and charities working with people with serious and often terminal illnesses have said that delays to research and clinical trials from Brexit could mean the difference between ‘life or death’ for patients.

Responding to Keir Starmer’s speech at the CBI annual conference, Peter Norris, Chair of Virgin Group and Co-Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

At a session of the UK Trade and Business Commission today, travel industry leaders have warned that the future of the UK outbound travel sector is at risk if the Government fails to agree a Youth Mobility Visa with EU partners enabling young people to develop the skills and experience needed for the industry in the coming years.