Brexit: Johnson says UK has ‘opportunity to expand horizons’
Despite warnings of miles of motorway tailbacks and delays to goods crossing the border, traffic between the UK and EU remains unaffected. Remainers claimed leaving the single market and customs union would cause red tape and bureaucracy that hampered trade.
On average, around 1,000 trucks, 500 cars and 2,000 passengers have passed through Dover to the continent each day since the EU transition period ended on December 31.
Traffic to and from the continent had been reduced in the immediate aftermath of the end of the transition period due to the Christmas holiday period.
However, yesterday, on the first day of the working week since the break, a spokesman from the Port at Dover told Express.co.uk crossings remained unaffected.
They said: “Traffic is running smoothly at the Port and has been since the beginning of transition.”
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Tom Talbot, head of customs operations for Dublin Port, also said there had been minimal issues at crossings between Ireland and the British mainland.
Hauliers are requited to fill out customs declaration forms before crossing the border.
A trusted trade scheme is also been set up to help minimise the number of businesses which need to fill out forms.
Up to 92 percent of drivers are getting green lights at the port after correctly filling out their paperwork.
Mr Talbot said: “We are seeing a little bit of more orange checks at the moment, but that’s because it is bedding in, but you get your green and that’s all you have to do.”
However, he added Dublin port was still seeing low numbers and traffic would pick up in the next couple of weeks, providing a bigger challenge for trade across the border.
“This has provided a good opportunity for ourselves, for trade, for business to build familiarity with the system, with new procedures,” he said.
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“It allows firms to build familiarity with procedures that apply to trade and new trade with Great Britain and the arrangements that are in place across both Rosslare and in Dublin Port.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government had worked hard to ensure businesses were ready for the new trading relationship between the UK and EU.
He said: “We’ve put in place significant plans to minimise disruption following the exit from the single market and the customs union.
“The number of problems since the start of the new year has been low and was expected.
“We continue to work with businesses to ensure they prepared and ready for the customs checks and to ensure they know what they need to do between the short strait.”
Last week Mr Johnson said the trade deal agreed between the EU was a triumph for businesses and reiterated there would be no disruption at ports.
He said in the House of Commons: “British exporters will not face a sudden thicket of trade barriers, but rather, for the first time in the history of EU agreements, zero tariffs and zero quotas.
“And just as we have avoided trade barriers, so we have also ensured the UK’s full control of our laws and our regulations.”
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