SCOTLAND'S GDP could be cut by a massive £9 billion by 2030 due to Brexit, the SNP have said.
The Herald reported that the UK is the only country among its close neighbours to experience a negative trade balance on exports since leaving the European Union.
The newspaper said figures from the House of Commons Library revealed a 5.5% drop in UK exports since the 2016 vote to leave the EU.
According to the SNP, this means Scotland's GDP will lose up to £9bn by 2030 "compared to EU membership".
The party said Scotland's GDP could see a 6% drop in a decade thanks to Brexit.
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The figures also show that of the top five countries that maintained a positive trade balance since the Brexit vote, three are similar or smaller in size to Scotland.
The statistics show Ireland saw an almost 50% jump in its export trade balance with France and Germany seeing 6.7% and 9.5% respectively between 2016 to 2021.
But with figures from 2020 the UK's expert balance, even when Covid is considered, stands at -19.3%.
This makes it the worst-performing country compared to its 13 closest neighbours.
The SNP’s trade spokesperson, Drew Hendry, told The Herald: “Far from boosting trade – like we were told it would by Boris Johnson and company – Brexit has seen the UK’s exports decrease and its trade balance slump to the worst in north west Europe.
"Brexit, which Scotland didn’t vote for, has already cost our country billions of pounds – and analysis shows it will continue to hit our economy, cutting Scotland’s GDP by up to £9bn by 2030 compared to EU membership.”
He went on: “Scotland deserves better than this. Three of the top five countries who have kept up a positive trade balance since the EU referendum, and the top three since the coronavirus outbreak, are similar in size or smaller than Scotland."
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Hendry said this shows just what an independent country is capable of and shows the need for independence.
Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, has already been hit by major supply shortages.
Only yesterday, The National reported on shortages and supply constraints on Ikea, Nespresso and Irn Bru makers AG Barr.
McDonald’s also hit headlines recently after all of its Scottish restaurants ran out of milkshakes.
Other fast-food firms including Nando’s, KFC, and Greggs have reported shortages of popular chicken-based menu items.
Many companies are pointing to a have lack of labour with widespread reports of a shortage of around 100,000 lorry drivers, which transport bosses blame on post-Brexit changes to migration and European workers returning home
However, A UK Government spokesperson told The Herald it was "too early" to make conclusions on the long-term consequences of Brexit.
READ MORE: Nespresso customers face delayed deliveries amid Brexit labour shortages
They said: “The pandemic and restrictions across Europe have affected trade and depressed demand, so it is too early to draw firm conclusions on the long-term impact of our new trading relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.
“We have secured deals with countries that account for 64% of UK trade - worth £744bn - and we are pursuing ambitious trade deals with countries like Australia, Japan and New Zealand as well as the £9 trillion Indo-Pacific free trade area.
“We are supporting businesses in Scotland to seize fantastic opportunities through free trade deals and reductions in trade barriers. Earlier this year we secured a suspension on retaliatory US tariffs on Scottish whisky, and through our new trade deal with Australia, distillers will also see the removal of 5% tariffs.”
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