The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, says that it hopes the package of measures unveiled by HMRC recently to accelerate growth of the UK’s customs intermediary sector is successful.
Commenting on the today’s confirmation by the UK government of new border controls and procedures from the end of the Transition Period, the trade association for UK freight forwarders questioned whether the phased transition will succeed in giving the companies that manage cross-border trade between the UK and EU enough time to make the necessary preparations to facilitate the revised arrangements.
The UK entered a Transition Period at the end January 2020 which lasts until the 31st December this year, however both signatories can seek an extension, of either one or two years, but this has to be agreed by the 30th June.
Following a survey of its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) reports that the majority of respondents believe that an extension to the transition period is desirable, if no trade deal is agreed by December 31st 2020 and UK trade with the EU is conducted on WTO lines.
In response to yesterday’s news that the government has signed agreements with six operators to provide up to £35 million to help ensure there is enough freight capacity to prevent disruption to the flow of freight, Robert Keen Director General of the British International Freight Association comments:
BIFA Member survey on mutually agreeing an extension to the Transition period.
The BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC) (all versions) are issued in English. BIFA does not provide translations of the STC into any other language.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has given a cautious welcome to the news that the UK Government will commit to invest some £2 billion in the UK’s transport infrastructure.
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Young Forwarders Network will be relaunched online with a virtual ‘Bake Off’, taking place on Wednesday May 27th, starting at 15:00.
As the stalled negotiations between the UK and EU started again this week, the head of the British International Freight Association has described the UK government’s insistence that it will not ask to extend the 11-month transition period as a very risky move.
British International Freight Association
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Telephone: 020 8844 2266