Will Brexit Impact the UK’s Imports and Exports?

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1570712895557{padding-top: 150px !important;padding-bottom: 150px !important;background-image: url(https://www.equestriansurfaces.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Cushion-Track-Classic-1.jpg?id=1910) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Will Brexit Impact the UK’s Imports and Exports?” heading_tag=”h1″ el_class=”shadow” margin_design_tab_text=””][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Brexit looms, and at present we’re not 100% sure about the particulars of how a no-deal Brexit will impact the way that goods are brought into and shipped out of the UK. However, if the recent reports from some of the UK’s main ports, such as Portsmouth and Dover, are to be believed, it looks to be almost certain that Brexit will have an impact on the way we trade goods with other countries.

Reports made by several news providers suggest that the post-Brexit chaos that most likely awaits us has already begun to affect the productivity and efficiency of our main ports, as well as impacting the towns and cities that surround them. 

With more than 10,000 lorries passing through Dover each day, many already fear the lengthy delays that are anticipated for importers and exporters due to the new paperwork that will be required post-Brexit. After speaking with members of the public in Dover’s surrounding towns, The Guardian has reported fears of a massive increase in congestion, impacting hugely on the daily lives of local people who are bound to face delays in their daily commute. The public have also expressed worry for their smaller local businesses and the local economy as a whole, fearing that people will begin to avoid travelling into the town centres that surround the ports due to the traffic, and instead take their business elsewhere. 

Despite some relatively minor plans having been put into place, with the district of Kent receiving £2.6m in funding to help with alleviating the stress at ports such as Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, many believe that the only way to avoid such chaos at UK ports would be to refuse a no-deal Brexit and set some form of agreement in place with the EU for UK intercountry trade. However, in our current position, no one quite knows when or how we will be leaving the EU, and so preparations are being put into place for a worst-case scenario. 

Another worry expressed by many is that the stress caused by these logistical issues at our ports will not only impact the lorry drivers and the companies they work for; as a result of all the delays they are almost certain to face, businesses will soon be forced to increase their prices in order to compensate, meaning the lives of consumers are likely to be impacted by the growing costs of imported products. 

There is hope that as a result of all this, consumers will begin to reinvest in products that are made here on British soil. Without the threat of paperwork complications and increased waiting times at ports (some estimate delays of up to 2.5 days), British businesses whose products are “home-grown” will be able to retain their regular prices and keep existing customers happy, as well as have an increased potential for attracting new customers who may usually have invested their money in products from overseas. 

Here at Equestrian Surfaces, each stage of the manufacturing and production process is managed in-house in Britain. The materials that form our surfaces are all sourced within the UK and transformed into high-quality riding surfaces in our Lancashire-based warehouse. Managing everything in-house in Britain allows us to avoid any complications surrounding the import of materials, allowing our customers the reassurance that our prices are unlikely to rise after the UK leaves the EU. 

Looking to invest in a new quality riding surface for your arena or gallop? Get in touch today for a chat about your needs, and find out more about the surfaces and services we offer. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]