UK SMEs shun EU exporting

A fall in trade between the UK and EU shows UK small and medium-sized enterprises are shunning EU exports according to Azets.

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows a second consecutive monthly fall in trade with the effects of Brexit and the global pandemic resulting in the total exports of goods excluding precious metals falling by £1.3bn (4.6%) in August 2021. This was in part due to a £0.6bn (4.3%) fall in exports to the EU.

Total exports of goods excluding precious metals in the three months to August 2021 decreased by £1.2bn (1.5%).

Lucy Sutcliffe national customs director and head of customs at Azets said: ‘Small UK businesses have been completely overwhelmed by bureaucracy and the additional time and cost it takes to trade across Europe. New duties border delays and transport costs are pushing UK SMEs into...