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BREXIT PREPAREDNESS
COMING, READY OR NOT
2020 has been a year like no other for most of us, dominated by a virus that has cost over 1.15 million lives globally and plunged the world into an economic recession which the Chief Economist of the World Bank says it could take five years to recover from.
For business leaders in every sector, over the past six months it has been almost impossible to focus on anything but finding the most sustainable way through this sudden and unexpected crisis – and, for most, it will be hard to think about anything else for a long time to come as they battle to protect the futures of their organisations.
Against such a dramatic and damaging backdrop, every business can be forgiven for letting Covid-19 dominate their thinking. They have shareholders to satisfy, customers to support and jobs to protect. Right now, the very survival of companies of every size remains in the balance with no end date in sight to the current crisis.
It’s not surprising then that the previous big talking point for governments and businesses in Europe, and consequently all over the world, has been quietly pushed into the background – but that’s about to become a major problem for companies that are unprepared.
Remember Brexit?
Yes, it’s back – well, actually, it never went away – and time is rapidly running out to prepare for the changes if you’re moving goods between the UK and EU and vice versa. As well as all the obvious financial consequences of not being able to trade seamlessly in these major markets, failure to have all the necessary requirements in place
may also play conveniently into the hands of Organised Crime Groups targeting supply chains because, as TAPA members know only too well, anything which disrupts, slows or stops the physical flow of goods often presents a ready-made opportunity for cargo thieves.
Last month, a leaked letter to trade bodies from UK Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Gove, warned of the risks for traders which are not ready for EU border controls.
Up to 7,000 trucks carrying goods from the UK to the EU might face delays of up to two days at the Port of Dover after the Brexit transition due to border controls, regardless of the outcome of future relationship discussions which continue between UK and EU leaders.
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