IMPORT controls coming into force at the end of April are set to cost businesses across the UK £2 billion and fuel higher inflation, according to a recent report.
The report by Allianz Trade has said the post-Brexit border checks, due to come into force on April 30, could add 10% to import costs over the first year and have a knock on effect to damage UK-EU trade.
It comes after Labour ruled out renegotiating the Brexit deal and said they were “committed to making Brexit work.”
Businesses have warned they are still in the dark over how the process will work with less than a month to go and that the new Brexit checks would drive up food prices and disproportionately hit small businesses.
This includes a recent call from the managing director of Scotland’s largest independent dairy to the UK Government to rethink its post-Brexit labelling scheme.
READ MORE: Bid to build 125 metre high wind turbine rejected by Scottish council
Scotland has already lost up to £100 million a year in salmon exports to the EU because of red tape and increased costs associated with Brexit.
The SNP’s Europe and EU accession spokesperson Alyn Smith MP reacted to the report and said following the recent denial from Labour that they plan to re-enter the customs union if they win the General Election, the party has "made it clear things won't change under a UK Labour government".
“With Labour and the Tories both committed to Brexit, independence is the only way for Scotland to re-join the EU single market and customs union to stop the onslaught of Brexit.
“Brexit has been a disaster from the beginning with businesses and household budgets in Scotland paying the price for Brexit and Tory government policies - none of which we voted for.
“Every week we see further evidence that Brexit isn’t working, indeed it is actively damaging businesses and our economy. But Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear things won’t change under a UK Labour government.
“The SNP are the only party offering the people of Scotland an escape from broken Brexit Britain and a route back into the EU - and the world's largest single market - through independence.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel