INTERNATIONAL
Post-Brexit regulation and global competitiveness barriers concern Liverpool trading businesses
The club, hosted on this occasion by Domino UK in Bootle, discussed their specific concerns and challenges pertaining to Brexit and specifically the difficulties of preparing an uncertain post-Brexit trading environment in such a short period of time.
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce members have expressed their continued frustrations at the implications of a rapidlyapproaching ‘no-deal’ Brexit at its latest International Trade Club meeting. Whilst expressing determination to prosper amid the future trading environment, members identified commercial challenges caused by potential trade barriers, currency fluctuations and tariffs as major potential obstacles for maintaining and improving the existing price competitiveness of their products and services. Regulatory challenges were also detailed by participants amid uncertainty in different sectors of industry that are dependent upon specific kite marks and accreditations for which continuity is not guaranteed in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. Chamber CEO Paul Cherpeau said: “The Chambers have been consistent in our contention that avoiding a messy and disorderly exit from the EU is necessary to ensure ongoing continuity of trade and economic health. Amidst
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the political pantomime in Westminster, internationally-trading businesses of all sizes, and their supply chains, face substantial adjustment costs to prepare for an unknown trading environment just six weeks from now. They are also facing regulatory and competitive pressures for which they require both an immediate and longer term solution. “In our conversations with business about Brexit, it is becoming increasingly clear that Brexit preparedness must be matched with support for ‘postBrexit preparedness’. Government must enable businesses to have the capacity to build consumer pipelines in new markets, deal with cashflow implications amid the new trading environment and maintain an appropriate level of human resource capacity and talent to maintain standards of quality.”
The club received presentations from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT) regarding the political timeline of the impending Brexit withdrawal and the preparatory activity businesses should be undertaking to mitigate their risk. Chair of the Chamber’s International Trade Club, Denis Sowler of Tithebarn Ltd, commented: “The Club meeting was an excellent opportunity to receive information from government about the current preparations for Brexit and for them to hear first-hand some of the specific concerns and challenges that are being faced by Liverpool City region businesses.” The Chamber’s International Trade Club is a quarterly meeting of Chamber members who trade internationally and meet to discuss pertinent issues and challenges faced in their trading environment. The club provides qualitative insight and information for the Chamber’s policy and advocacy work which supplements the quantitative evidence obtained through its trade survey programme.
‘In our conversations with business about Brexit, it is becoming increasingly clear that Brexit preparedness must be matched with support for ‘post-Brexit preparedness’.