Important to note no business can be "fully" ready at this stage as we're missing key info.
How can a business be ready without knowing how the borders will operate or whether the UK external tariffs are final? Or withouht all the required authorisations
Gove now saying that "everyone knew what will be required on our departure from the customs union and from the SM". Speaking about business readiness and frankly blaming the businesses for not taking action since it was all so obvious.
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But Gove makes an important point "business needs our support to take advantage of the opportunities". Well exactly.
It needed and still needs Gov's support. The messaging around how business just hasn't engaged is false.
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Although I do have to say- the fact that Gove and the rest of Gov are increasingly stressing the need for businesses to take action immediately is very helpful.
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It's something that I and others (e.g. @AllieRenison) have been mentioning for a while now during various roundtable discussions- Gov business comms need to include a clear "call to action". Even with the phase-in approach there is a lot businesses need to do before 1 Jan.
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Hello. I don't do this anymore but since the BTOM Brexit border checks are finally here I thought I'd post something.
1⃣ The rules changed in Jan 2021. This is when these checks should have been introduced
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2⃣ They were postponed five times as this country tried to avoid the consequences of its own decisions. The increased costs and burden are a direct result of the choices made between 2016 and 2020.
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3⃣ I deeply sympathise with businesses facing these new requirements. They have been living on borrowed time since 2021.
4⃣ We weren’t ready the last five times, we’re not ready now. We will never be fully ready.
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A couple of thoughts on the Windsor Framework and the new solution for the GB/NI/ROI border.
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1. Details still need to be worked out
As expected, still a lot of work to be done. Whether it's non-steel TRQs, the new Trusted Trader scheme or a reimbursement system for goods that went via red lane but stayed in NI.
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And as a result, the deal will take some time to implement. The EU documents set out the expected timeline - we're not out of the woods yet.
1⃣ According to a 2020 study two-thirds of the e-commerce products imported into the EU fails to meet EU safety laws.
2⃣ Part of the equation is that e-commerce has changed the way border checks need to be done. As trade is more “fragmented”, border checks are trickier.
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Sub-point here - the arrival of Alibaba (et co.) was met with a political decision to accommodate/facilitate.
While supporting e-commerce makes sense on many levels, compromising domestic controls may not. There is a fine balance between these two.
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First stop today - Motis. Mostly an inbound Inland Border Facility with additional services such as some export processes and live animal checks. Great driver facilities too
Port of Dover. Traffic buildup due to P&O ferries not operating.
Big thank you to @Port_of_Dover for hosting us earlier today and showing us around.
Anyone can now purchase a bulletproof vest or a helmet and export it provided that they can demonstrate it's going to an end-user in Ukraine.
This also covers transit of such equipment
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There has been A LOT of questions on that lately - how do I purchase a bulletproof vest in Poland and export it to Ukraine. Under normal circumstances, it's not that easy. Such movements are controlled.
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