International Trade Eurofile Trade news and advice


demonstrating synergies between South Africa and the West Midlands region to encourage greater trade and investment links. We look forward to a possible trade delegation returning to the city later in the year.” Russell added: “The deputation was interested


to learn about our role and status in the local and international business community. It was also important, from our point of view, that we were able to provide a detailed insight into the services that the Chamber delivers to its members and clients.” Keith Stokes-Smith, chairman of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association (BCA), who accompanied the deputation on their tour of the region, said: “Commonwealth links are vastly undervalued and under exploited. But they are the growth markets of the future and South Africa has been identified as a 2016 target country. “It is our aim to meet again soon to pursue


mutually beneficial outcome driven objectives to build upon Geater Birmingham’s global competitiveness and, in turn, create growth.” Martin Levermore, who chairs the BCA’s trade


& business forum, said: “The visit of the South African High Commissioner at the start of early dynamic trading discussions with Midlands’ companies has demonstrated BCA’s commitment on enhancing Birmingham’s profile, reputation and influence beyond Europe.”


For further details contact the UKTI team in Birmingham on 0121 450 4205


By Fred Bromwich


Moves by the European Commission (EC) to modernise VAT in the EU have been welcomed by Chamber-based officials as “great news” for business. The Commission’s “action plan” to create a


single EU VAT area is designed to make the system simpler, more fraud-proof and business- friendly. It sets out immediate and urgent actions to tackle the VAT gap and adapt the system to the digital economy and the needs of SMEs. Craig Biffen (pictured), from the Europe Direct


team based at Chamber House, said: “This is great news for businesses, especially SMEs. One of the major issues that companies have is that there is too much red tape, so such proposals are to be welcomed as a positive step forward.”


‘The VAT ‘gap’ was almost €170 billion in 2013’


It is acknowledged that current VAT rules urgently need to be updated so they can better support the Single Market, facilitate cross-border trade and keep pace with today’s digital and mobile economy. The VAT ‘gap’ – the difference between


expected VAT revenue and VAT actually collected in Member States – was almost €170 billion in 2013. Cross-border fraud itself is estimated to be responsible for a VAT revenue loss of around €50 billion a year in the European Union. The next step will be for the Commission to


ask the European Parliament and the Council, supported by the European Economic and Social Committee, to provide clear political guidance on the options put forward in the Action Plan and to confirm their support for the reforms. The current VAT system for cross-border trade came


Contact: Sunny Claire T: 0121 607 1800


Tackling the EU VAT gap


Euro adviser Craig Biffen


into force in 1993. The Commission intends to come forward with its proposals for a single European VAT area in 2017. EC Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said: "We


are starting a dialogue with the European Parliament and the Member States. Every year, cross-border VAT fraud costs our Member States and tax payers about € 50 billion. At the same time, the administrative burden for small businesses is high and technical innovation poses new challenges for VAT collection. This Commission has already proposed clear measures to address corporate tax avoidance, and we will be equally decisive in tackling VAT fraud." Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic


and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: "VAT is a major source of tax revenue for EU Member States. Yet we face a staggering fiscal gap: the VAT revenues collected are €170 billion short of what they should be. This is a huge waste of money that could be invested on growth and jobs. It's time to have this money back."


Brewing up international trade


Craft beer from the Black Country will soon be served in bars in Finland after award-winning craft brewery Sadler’s Ales won its first major exporting deal.


Lara Kelly of Hum Flowerpots


across the UK but also overseas. “Following demand from trade buyers, we


have upgraded our production line so that it is fully automated, and UKTI has been a real help to us as we spread our wings in the export market.”


To find out what other events are taking place across the region during Exporting is GREAT Week visit: www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk/


L-R: Ian King, Paul Keepling and Chris Sadler The Lye-based brewer will be shipping


thousands of bottles of its Hop Bomb and Red Ale IPA over the next 12 months as it looks to ramp up its overseas business, following a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) trip to Latvia last November. As well as exporting to Finland, it is also in


advanced talks with sales distributors in Norway and Sweden, after the opportunities were spotted by Paul Keeling, the company’s UKTI international trade adviser. Ian King, sales director, said: “It’s an exciting


time for the brewery and we are very pleased to be in the process of sending our first major consignment of beers to Finland, which will be sold in retail stores and bars across the country. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by


the team here but we are confident about the quality of our beers and are determined to get our brand known in as many territories as possible.”


May 2016 CHAMBERLINK 25


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