BCC says businesses will welcome the Agreement in Principle as a positive step forward but there is a long way to go before a free trade deal is signed.
BCC says businesses will welcome the Agreement in Principle as a positive step forward but there is a long way to go before a free trade deal is signed.
The British Chambers of Commerce’s Trade Confidence Outlook for Q1, released today, has revealed the stark issues facing UK exporters in the first months of this year. The survey of more than 2,900 UK exporters revealed that the percentage of firms reporting decreased export sales had increased to 41%, up from 38% in the previous quarter. The percentage of businesses reporting increased export sales fell to 20%, down from 22% in Q4 2020. 40% reported no change in their export sales.
Responding to the publication of the Global Travel Taskforce Framework for International Travel, British Chambers of Commerce Director of Policy James Martin said: “The sector has been hard hit in the last year, with prolonged uncertainty about when the full resumption of travel will be possible. This framework provides some welcome clarity however much uncertainty remains around what countries will be on the green list come May 17th.
BCC Head of Economics, Suren Thiru, says practical difficulties faced by businesses on the ground go well beyond teething problems, and with disruption to UK-EU trade flows persisting, trade is likely to be a drag on UK economic growth in the first quarter of 2021.
Results from the latest British Chambers of Commerce survey, in partnership with moneycorp, found that while 44% of UK exporters to the EU plan to grow their exports to the European Union, nearly a quarter (23%) are looking to either reduce their activity in the EU or have no activity at all in the next 12 months, following the ratification of the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Two-thirds of UK businesses are looking to increase activity in the domestic market.
Results from the first major business survey for 2021 by the British Chambers of Commerce on Brexit found that half (49%) of exporters are facing difficulties in adapting to the changes in the trade of goods following the ratification of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on 1 January 2021.
BCC Director General, Adam Marshall, responds to plans by the government to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership
BCC Director General Adam Marshall comments on the announcement that the UK and Canada have finalised a trade agreement to replace CETA, the existing deal it has through European Union membership.
BCC Director of Trade Facilitation Liam Smyth responds to today's announcement of £200m for a new Trader Support Service for Northern Ireland traders.
With the Brexit transition period set to end in December this year, BCC Director of Trade Facilitation Liam Smyth explains why now is the time for businesses to take action and get ready for a new border operating environment from 1st January 2021.
