Brexit and "free ports"

News 1 Oct 2017 by WCN Editorial

The British Ports Association has called for a new debate on a free ports policy following a report from trade specialists Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP

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“BPA welcomes further debate on free ports following publication of new post Brexit report on free trade zones,” said CEO Richard Ballantyne. “Free ports and free trade areas at ports is an interesting concept which many UK ports are looking at.

The report is entitled Free Trade Zones: Part of the UK’s post Brexit international trade.

The UK "free ports debate" was sparked by The Free Ports Opportunity, written by Conservative MP and Brexiteer Rishi Sunak last year.

Brexit could mean that new customs and trade opportunities arise and any proposals which make the UK ports and logistics industry more competitive and improves the flow of goods at ports should be welcomed.

"Of course, free zone status could be more beneficial for certain ports and it is important to ensure any future proposals properly reflect the diversity of the UK ports industry, whilst balancing competition," continued Mr Ballantyne.

"We look forward to discussing these and other ideas with the UK Government to ensure that Brexit retains a strong focus on trade.”

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has again intervened in the Brexit talks, insisting that the "Florence" 2-year transition period lasts not a day over two years and that after the A50 2-year deadline is reached in March 2019, theUK accepts no more EU laws. This would make the Port Services Regulation a "dead letter" in the UK. The UK ports industry, as represented by the BPA and the UK Major Ports Group, is unanimous in its opposition to this regulation. The Conservative Party's annual conference begins in Manchester on Monday, 2nd October.