Brexit: One in four small export businesses have stopped selling to the EU, poll finds
Seven in 10 importers and exporters have experienced delays in recent weeks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Almost one in four small businesses which export goods have temporarily stopped shipping to the EU since the end of the Brexit transition period, a survey has found.
Close to a third (32 per cent) have lost goods in transit, and an even greater proportion (34 per cent) have had goods held indefinitely at EU border crossings. Of those that have experienced delays, 36 per cent have suffered hold-ups that lasted more than two weeks.
The Federation of Small Businesses surveyed 1,483 firms between 1 and 15 March. It found that seven in 10 importers and exporters suffered shipment delays when moving goods around the EU in recent weeks.
Around one in 25 have decided to stop selling into the EU permanently after new trading rules came into force at the start of this year, the poll suggested. And some 23 per cent have temporarily stopped sending goods to the trading bloc.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said some exporters have established, or are considering setting up a presence within an EU country to ease their exporting processes.
Read more:
One in 10 are thinking about securing warehousing space in the EU or Northern Ireland, said the report.
Most importers and/or exporters have suffered shipment delays when moving goods around the EU in recent weeks, said the FSB, with one in three losing goods in transit or having goods held indefinitely at EU border crossings.
FSB chairman Mike Cherry said: "At a moment when small firms are doing all we can to return to growth and get our economy firing on all cylinders again, those that do business internationally are being hit with some incredibly demanding, unfamiliar paperwork.
"Three months on from the end of the transition period, what we hoped would prove to be teething problems are in danger of becoming permanent, systemic ones.
"While larger firms have the resources and bandwidth to overcome them regardless, smaller traders are struggling, and considering whether exports are worth the effort any more.
"Unless more is done to ease the admin burden on those that do business overseas, and increase access to markets outside the EU, it will weigh heavy on our efforts to recover from the most severe downturn on record."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments