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UK needs to show ambition resetting EU relationship, says Logistics UK
Logistics UK has responded to media reports that the UK and EU are working towards a new "strategic partnership".
Ahead of the EU/UK Summit on 19 May, Logistics UK's Head of Trade and Devolved Policy Nichola Mallon says that any future agreement must reduce border friction if the government is to achieve its growth mission: “Our members, the businesses that move all the goods the country needs every day, are adamant the government must be ambitious when resetting relations with the EU and reviewing the existing UK EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
"The frictions that currently face traders – many of them caused by the need for inspections on exported and imported products of animal and plant origin - are slowing the movement of goods across the nation’s borders and into the UK’s supply chain. The EU is the UK’s biggest trading partner and, if the government is to realise its growth ambitions, reducing border friction with the EU is essential.
“The current requirement for Sanitary and PhytoSanitary (SPS) Checks on plant and animal products being exported from GB to the EU and vice versa is adding time, bureaucracy and cost to UK trader and logistics operations, with SMEs and groupage operators disproportionately impacted.
"Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU was announced, Logistics UK has been constant in calling for a comprehensive SPS Agreement between both economies to speed up the passage of goods into and out of the country, while protecting the UK’s biosecurity. A mutually agreed SPS agreement would ease many of the logistics industry’s concerns about delays and disruption, which impacts the goods that factories, shops and, ultimately, consumers all rely on.
“To reduce trading friction, logistics businesses are also urging the UK government and EU to seek to reduce customs barriers at the border, particularly in Safety and Security Declarations as both seek to prioritise security and defence cooperation. As always, our industry stands ready to provide real-world advice and expertise to governments on both sides of the Channel to ease the passage of goods to the end user.”
Published On: 15/05/2025 14:20:01
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News In Brief
Logistics UK calls for more detail on US/UK trade deal
Following the announcement of the US/UK trade deal, Logistics UK Head of Trade and Devolved Policy Nichola Mallon said the logistics sector welcomes the agreement in principle but awaits the detail with interest: “The logistics sector will be intrinsic to delivering the boost to trade that has been promised from the US/ UK trade deal - our members will welcome the fact that a deal has been negotiated.
“While the 10% universal tariff remains in place and outside of this deal, we will be scrutinising the detail of the agreement in the coming weeks to identify the opportunities the deal should bring. After so much discussion and uncertainty around our trading relationship with the US, our members will appreciate the clarity and greater certainty that the agreement should provide.
"Businesses have been unsettled by the lack of clarity and consistency provided for traders since tariffs were announced: hopefully the agreement will lead to a period of greater stability.”
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