Date Published: 30/01/2020
ARCHIVED - Murcia truck drivers relieved as Brexit transition period starts on Saturday
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Fears of long customs delays in a no-deal Brexit have been allayed by the agreement
With the UK’s departure from the European Union under 48 hours away it is reported that the lorry drivers of the Region of Murcia, who for a long time warned of the dire consequences for the regional economy if no deal and transition period were agreed upon, are reported to be calm and relaxed now that there is at least some certainty over what the situation will be until the end of 2020.
It should be remembered that the agricultural sector in Murcia depends to a very large extent on exports to the north of Europe, particularly the UK, and there had been worries that the introduction of customs barriers could delay road traffic crossing into Britain and thus affect the freshness of products when they reach supermarket shelves. However, now that it has been established that the situation will remain unchanged for at least another 11 months (a period which could be extended by another two years) Manuel Pérezcarro of the transport workers’ federation FROET reports that there is a far greater feeling of security among the drivers he represents.
Over the coming months efforts will be made to reach a new trading agreement between the EU and the UK, and until that is achieved the uncertainty over the long-term ramifications of Brexit remain unclear. But Sr Pérezcarro is optimistic that both sides will agree on a relationship which does not present excessive obstacles to trade and freight transport, and that in the end the terms of that relationship will not be vastly dissimilar to the current situation.
In the meantime, the British government is preparing to launch what it describes on its website as “the new GREAT ‘Ready to Trade’ campaign” in 17 cities across 13 countries outside the EU, as the UK seeks to “deepen our relationships with future global partners”. At the same time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging people to “look ahead with confidence to the global, trail-blazing country we will become over the next decade”, although in order for that forecast to stand a chance of being proved correct it is important that a viable trading agreement be reached with the UK’s former European partners.
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