Archives
Freight News, Road, Sea
Ferry port operators raise Brexit concerns
[ November 15, 2017 // Chris ]British Ports Association ferry port operators met with the junior Department for Exiting the EU Minister Robin Walker MP on 14 November to outline the implications and challenges which may arise when the UK leaves the EU, including customs and other bureaucratic documentation
BPA chief executive Richard Ballantyne said: “We were today able to highlight what the possible implications of leaving the customs union and the single market will be for the ports and operators in this part of the logistics sector. We welcomed the Minister’s attention on this area and we have been able to highlight the concerns of this particularly significant part of the ports sector. It is vital that any Brexit deal focuses on the technical and potentially disruptive non-tariff barrier changes which could threaten the existing frictionless trade we currently enjoy at our borders.”
BPA’s ro-ro ports believe that the option of a new customs partnership with the EU which would not see any new customs requirements between the UK and the EU, whilst allowing for new trade deals to be agreed with countries around the world, is the most manageable option. However it remains to be seen if this option will find support with the EU and its members.