As the gridlock in Dover continues, 26 French firemen have arrived in the UK port with 10,000 testing kits to support the British authorities just as news of a trade deal between the UK and the EU is emerging from the negotiations in Brussels.
France’s ambassador to the UK, Catherine Colonna, tweeted that the UK and France were “neighbours, partners, allies and (yes) friends”, she added that the 26 firemen were “working together with the teams in Dover,” bringing relief to the lorry drivers stuck in the port town for nearly three days.
Approximately 6,000 trucks and hundreds more cars and vans have been unable to make the crossing into France following the closure of the border by the French authorities at midnight CET on 20 December, who feared the spread of the new virulent strain of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, a trade deal between the EU and the UK has been announced bringing to a close months of intense negotiations ahead of the end of the transition period next week, as the UK finally leaves behind EU regulations.
The trade agrement will avert the tariffs and potential chaos, that was feared would have ensued if no deal was agreed and the UK had reverted to World Trade Organisation rules. Nevertheless, UK exporters and importers will see higher costs as non-tariff barriers to trade such as increased documentation are expected to raise costs by up to 8%, according to some estimates.
Representatives from the EU have sent the 2,000-page document to all 27 EU member states and if there is unanimous support for the agreement it will come into force on 1 January, if the UK parliament also ratifies the deal.
Nevertheless, UK exporters and importers will see higher costs as non-tariff barriers to trade such as increased documentation are expected to raise costs by up to 8%, according to some estimates.
Representatives from the EU have sent the 2,000-page document to all 27 EU member states and if there is unanimous support for the agreement it will come into force on 1 January, if the UK parliament also ratifies the deal.
Nick Savvides
Managing Editor
