Brexit round-up – 26/02/21

SME Brexit Support Fund announced

Michael Gove has announced a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) adjust to new customs, rules of origin and VAT rules when trading with the EU following the UK’s departure from the EU. SMEs will be able to apply for grants of up to £2,000 to enable them to continue trading with the EU post Brexit and can be used to provide training and professional advice to allow them to understand and comply with the new import controls which will come into force in April and July.  Mr Gove said “This new targeted funding will see small businesses get more of the practical support they need to adjust to the new processes and prepare for further changes as we implement our own import controls in April and July. Together we will seize new opportunities available to a fully independent global trading United Kingdom.”

For more information please click here.

Meeting over Irish Sea border “hugely disappointing”

A meeting of the EU-UK body which is overseeing the Northern Ireland Brexit deal, chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, has been held in order to resolve issues with the Irish Sea Border following the UK’s departure from the EU. Following Brexit, Northern Ireland remains part of the EU’s single market for good and will continue to enforce EU customs rules at its ports but now that the UK has left the EU there are ongoing problems with exports at the border. First Minister Arlene Foster said that the meeting was “hugely disappointing” and that no breakthrough was reached on the UK’s request to extend the grace period, the first of which is due to end in April. The UK has requested an extension until 2023. In contrast, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the meeting had been “constructive and pragmatic” and said that another meeting of the committee would take place before the end of March.

For more information please click here.

Government plans to scrap EU’s Vnuk motor insurance law

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the UK government is planning to remove EU Vnuk motor insurance law from British law following the UK’s departure from the EU. The EU’s Vnuk motor insurance law requires insurance for a wider range of vehicles, even on private land, including ride-on lawnmowers, mobility scooters, quad bikes and golf buggies. If this is removed from UK law then it could save British drivers an estimated cost of up to £50 per year on their insurance premiums. Mr Shapps said “We have always disagreed with this over-the-top law that would only do one thing – hit the pockets of hard-working people up and down the country with an unnecessary hike in their car insurance. I am delighted to announce that we no longer need to implement it. Scrapping this rule would save the country billions of pounds and is part of a new and prosperous future for the UK outside the EU – a future in which we set our own rules and regulations.”

For more information please click here.

Webinar: Crossing Brexit borders – the impact on importers and exporters

There have been conflicting stories in the press about the volume of freight exports from the UK in the first months of 2021. The impact of Brexit on importers and exporters will be discussed at our free Zoom Brexit webinar at 12pm on Thursday 4th March. We have brought together a panel of experts to talk about the impact on cross border trade for businesses, what the threats are, and what potential opportunities might exist.

Click here to register.

If you have any questions about any of the issues which are raised, or would like to discuss your own organisation’s options during the Brexit process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.