The European Shippers’ Council is concerned about a lack of progress on Brexit negotiations and is supporting its member, the UK’s Freight Transport Association (FTA) in their call for EU and UK leaders to prioritize urgent mitigation measures.
Pauline Bastidon, head of European policy at FTA, commented: “In the event of No Deal – a scenario identified as a serious possibility by both sides – new agreements would be needed to allow trucks, planes and trains to cross the borders with the EU, keep goods flowing and shops and factories supplied. Border delays and disruptions, as well as additional costs and red tape are serious worries for our members, but the biggest showstopper of them all would be drastic reductions to the international movement of freight vehicles and planes.”
Bastidon added: “Our plea is for both sides to start working on contingency plans and mitigating measures for transport as an urgent priority, so that businesses can rely on a co-ordinated plan and legal certainties, even in the event of a No Deal outcome. The logistics sector is a problem solver, but there is only so much we can do if we are forced to approach this blindfolded and with our hands tied”.
