UK Logistics request extension

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is the first major UK trade association to request an extension to the  Brexit transition period. It says focus must be on the UK supply chain functioning  in the face of COVID-19.

The transition period ends on 31 December 2020 and will require a large scale change in the way cross border trade with the EU functions with a direct impact on transportation.

Elizabeth de Jong, Policy Director at the FTA says “This is purely and simply so the businesses tasked with keeping the UK’s supply chain intact can concentrate on  the serious issues which the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on the industry”

She continues stating that the logistics industry simply does not have “capacity available to plan the major structural changes needed to implement a successful departure from the EU”

The FTA describe the current challenge as unprecedented as hauliers battle to keep the UK supplied with vital goods and cope with disruption to their own staffing levels.

The topic of Brexit has understandably been absent from government comment and media speculation for 2 weeks. Peter Foster, former Telegraph Brexit writer suggests the whole subject is “in limbo destination unknown”, with the cabinet committee suspended along with all related Whitehall activity until further notice.

Read the full FTA press release here