Cabinet office minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, is this morning (27 August) setting out the UK government's ambition for better trade relations with the EU, including around food and drink, energy trading and a youth mobility scheme.
Commenting, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, Marco Forgione, said:
"The reality across the UK is that British exporters - including many small businesses just starting to expand overseas - are forking out up to £200m each year for licences to trade. From Scottish smoked salmon to English sparkling wine, asparagus to cut flowers, and everything in-between, slashing costs and streamlining border checks could support thousands more businesses to share their wares with a world that is hungry for British goods.
"We welcome the announcement today of a clear timeframe for the delivery of a permanent UK-EU agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures by 2027, and look forward to working with the UK Government, our members, and the wider export community to help shape the legislation and regulatory frameworks that will deliver this.
"As the world continues to adapt to the ongoing muscular unpicking of the rules-based multilateral global system, and with geopolitics testing supply chain resilience on every front, closer trade ties with the EU - the UK's largest single partner - are about delivering smart, sovereign choices for growth for British businesses in every corner of the land."
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