Finding a Better Way to Facilitate Cross-Border Trade with the EU, post Brexit

The International Trade desk at Demie & Company have digged into the details of EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. While no major amendments to the agreement, other than expected alterations to the NI protocol are in the pipeline, our advisors are throwing out the below suggestions for smoother facilitions of trade between the UK and EU.

1. Streamline the VAT process: The UK should explore options for enabling businesses to submit one VAT return for sales transactions across the EU, or a new, simplified process that allows businesses to easily access and submit standardized paperwork across the EU.

2. Improve customs procedures: The UK should work with the EU to facilitate swift customs clearance processes, employing measures such as digital certificates of origin and/or self-certification of origin as well as other harmonized customs processes. The UK could also adopt the EU’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which allows certified operators to access expedited customs procedures, as well as take advantage of other facilitations offered in trade agreements the UK will enter with other countries.

3. Implement an efficient and transparent trade dispute resolution system: The UK and the EU should develop a comprehensive dispute resolution process that enables businesses to resolve trade disputes quickly and amicably.

4. Promote increased transparency: The UK should ensure that all regulatory processes, from customs to sanitary/phytosanitary regulations, are well-documented, public, and easily understood by businesses.

5. Revamp border infrastructure: To ensure goods move quickly and efficiently, the UK should make the necessary investments to maintain and upgrade the requisite border infrastructure, such as ports, airports, and customs buildings.

6. Encourage digitalisation: The UK should foster the development and adoption of digital tools to streamline import/export services with technological advances to reduce customs clearance delays.

7. Increase investments in research and development to strengthen the competitiveness of UK businesses in the EU market.

8. Enhance transparency in the foundation, taxation, and fees linked to trade processes.

9. Streamline administrative procedures to simplify and reduce the cost of customs clearance while increasing efficiency in trading operations.