Brexit stockpiling is on hold because of financial damage from the pandemic 1/ bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
With cash reserves depleted, firms don't have the money to build up Brexit stockpiles like before previous deadlines, according to the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply 2/
Plus there's a psychological block - companies have already marched up the hill and spent money before, only for Brexit not to happen. Johnson and Gove need to convince firms that this time it's for real, says @cipsnews economist John Glen 3/
As it stands, if there is disruption to UK-EU trade on Jan 1 2021 as many fear, firms won't have the stockpiles to fall back on to stop shortages, according to CIPS 4/
Why is disruption expected? Even with a free-trade deal, companies face a wave of new red-tape and paperwork on UK-EU trade that they are ill-prepared for. This just one example 5/ bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Plus all the still-to-be-tested customs systems and processes, and a shortage of agents to handle the extra paperwork. The Brexit lorry parks are being readied as we speak 6/
The government really needs firms to start heeding those Brexit adverts, which have been criticized for being too positive in tone. We're entering the crucial last stretch of preparations.... ends/ bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
