Brexit: British companies ask EU to delay customs formalities
A French customs officer checks the loading of an English truck in the port of Ouistreham, Normandy, in September 2019 (Photo illustration).
AP - David Vincent
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Brexit negotiations are in the home stretch.
A compromise seems very difficult between the British government and the European Union.
But agreement or not, British companies are asking Brussels to delay the application of the new customs formalities which are due to come into force on January 1.
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The powerful Confederation of British Industry is asking the European Union to delay the introduction of new customs controls for a year, because due to the health crisis, companies have not had time to prepare.
The Confederation, which brings together 190,000 companies, is asking Brussels for a grace period to comply with the new administrative formalities which normally must come into force on January 1, 2021. A few days before this deadline, companies still do not know what future relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union will look like.
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: Brexit: "real and concrete efforts" to be made, in particular on fishing according to Michel Barnier
The UK government recognizes that there will be border disruptions with countries in the European Union from January 1.
Whether agreement or no agreement, companies will be subject to new administrative procedures and new customs controls, a situation which should cause long queues at the borders.
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Brexit
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