Insomuch as we can apply an overarching theme to describe 2021, the past year has been one of transitions.
The year started with the ‘big bang’ of Great Britain’s exit from the EU Customs Union and Single Market and the advent of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – signed just as we said goodbye to 2020.
Who can forget how the global supply chain crisis – epitomised by super container ship the Ever Given getting stuck in the Suez Canal – and the ongoing global pandemic led to empty supermarket shelves?
FTAs clocking up
The idea of the UK as an independent trading nation continued to morph in front of our eyes as the Department for International Trade clocked up the free trade deals, most recently with Australia.
Stories chronicling the phasing-in of the Border Operating Model – the government’s blueprint for how it is managing post-Brexit borders – were among the most popular, as traders hungered for the latest news.
The IOE&IT’s Daily Update bulletin – which you regularly tell us you like, supported by buoyant open and click-through rates – was there to report on so many topics as the year unfolded – producing stories you found to be must-read along the way.
Here we look back at the most-read stories of the year gone by – from nearly 800 we happily produced for you, our loyal readers.
With that, the Daily Update team signs off for 2021. Here's to another news-packed year in 2022 – of that, there is little doubt.
December 2021
HMRC's message to GB exporters to EU: choose your port of exit carefully from 1 January 2022Read full story here.
One year after Brexit: IOE&IT polls show GB traders coping with new rules but wary of more changes
Read full story here.
November 2021
Government announces 12-step plan to get UK to £1tn in exports – including new tradeshow programme
Read full story here.
Read full story here.
October 2021
UK exporters not ready for new origin rules and could face tariffs on EU trade, industry bodies warn
Read full story here.
IOE&IT membership numbers up 50% in one year, AGM hears, as future plans are outlined
Read full story here.
September 2021
IOE&IT welcomes new exports minister Mike Freer MP to a ‘vitally important brief’
Read full story here.
Government delays SPS controls for EU-to-GB trade until 2022: IOE&IT response and new timetable
Read full story here.
August 2021
Retail and logistics firms repeat call to issue short-term visas to European drivers to fix shortage
Read full story here.
HMRC finally confirms when new customs declaration system CDS takes over from CHIEF
Read full story here.
July 2021
Government warns firms to prepare for EU trade rule changes – including supplementary declarations
Read full story here.
Government plans to scrap its grant scheme for exporters attending overseas trade fairs after review
Read full story here.
June 2021
Traders come to IOE&IT for help with new EU VAT reporting rules that start tomorrow, Thursday 1 July
Read full story here.
UK government unveils new subsidy system and claims it will be ‘more flexible’ than the EU’s
Read full story here.
May 2021
Why does the UK want to join a Pacific trade pact? 10 key CPTPP questions answered
Read full story here.
Traders urged to prepare for digitalisation of trade documents as international adoption looms
Read full story here.
April 2021
Queen’s Award winners 2021 revealed: export winners hailed for finding new overseas markets
Read full story here.
Turkish delight as exports to UK soar in three months after trade deal roll-over
Read full story here.
March 2021
Suez Canal blockage could add as much as 10 days to delivery times for UK businesses
Read full story here.
Five key takeaways for traders from the Chancellor’s Budget speech today
Read full story here.
February 2021
‘The government has listened,’ IOE&IT chief says as £20m fund for SMEs trading with EU is unveiled
Read full story here.
One month after transition from the EU: how the UK has adapted to new trade rules
Read full story here.
January 2021
‘Tariffs may apply if goods don't undergo sufficient processing in UK,’ firms told in IOE&IT rules of origin webinar
Read full story here.
Soaring cross-Channel freight rates here to stay as UK border braces for increase in traffic
Read full story here.