09 Jul 2024

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Brexit’s Legacy: Customs Clearance & The Ongoing Impact On UK-EU Trade

While the politicians bluffed and bungled their way through the Brexit negotiations, it was left to the UK’s business leaders and supply chain coordinators to figure out exactly how to navigate through the landscape of UK trade with the EU after Brexit.

It is an ongoing challenge that not everybody has been able to rise to, but those of us still plugging away

are learning how to cope with the complex customs clearances post-Brexit, while absorbing the other

various impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on our businesses. But it is not

just about surviving in this post-Brexit world, but about finding a way to succeed and thrive despite the

many new obstacles placed before us.

Importers and exporters are the most affected, of course, but slap bang in the middle of it all are the UK

and European haulage companies. Haulage firms have needed to quickly gain a deep understanding of

the new customs declarations and essential documentation, as well as the new duties, taxes and border

control requirements. Some goods also qualify for tariff-free and quota-free transport but require

stringent evidence of origin, while it is more important than ever to develop good working relationships

with customs agents to ensure compliance and reduce costs wherever possible.

This is why UK and European haulage companies are best placed to assess the legacy of Brexit and how

it is affecting supply chain coordinators, so let’s take a closer look at Brexit’s impact on UK trade and

how the reality of trading with the EU looks in 2024.

Customs Declarations & Documentation

All goods moving between the UK and the EU now require special customs declarations, which includes

both imports and exports. There are many new essential documents required for customs clearance,

such as the C88 import/export declarations, as well as commercial invoices, bills of lading, packing lists,

and certificates of origin.

This has significantly increased the amount of paperwork and compliance workload, which has been a

major pain point for smaller businesses lacking enough personnel to take on the extra load.

Duties & Taxes

There are now additional import duties, VAT, and excise duties applied to goods entering the UK from

the EU. These tariffs vary based on commodity codes and adherence to TCA rules of origin, although

there are also certain goods that qualify for tariff-free and quota-free trade.

However, proving origin is an intricate process, with non-compliant goods facing standard tariffs which

raise business costs even more.

Border Controls & The Role of Customs Agents

The UK has already introduced full checks for customs clearance post-Brexit, including sanitary and

phytosanitary (SPS) checks for high-risk animal and plant products. These checks aim to verify health and

safety standards for UK trade with the EU after Brexit agreements and should be fully phased in this

year.

Such border controls mean businesses like European haulage companies are increasingly dependent on

customs agents to handle customs declarations and streamline the import/export processes. These

intermediaries help ensure compliance and reduce errors to minimise any unnecessary extra costs.

Alas, there are already enough necessary extra costs caused by UK trade with the EU after Brexit, with

UK and European haulage companies doing their utmost to reduce those costs with efficient shipping

and transport along with complete customs compliance.

At K Charles Haulage, we specialise in ensuring your cargo is shipped, transported, and delivered with

ease. Contact us today to learn how our expert services can help streamline your customs clearance

process, minimise delays, and keep your shipments on track!