On the 15th of August, the Government released their paper detailing their proposals for the trade and customs arrangements after Brexit. The Freight Transport Association, the FTA, have said that releasing this information represents a step in the right direction during these discussions. The FTA have however said that the plans in this paper are not guaranteed and there will be a series of delicate negotiations required in order to make sure that British companies are able to trade freely and easily after Britain leave the European Union.

The FTA is well-known and the largest membership organisation for the UK logistics sector. The Association has been vocal in the past in regards to the Brexit negotiations taking place, in order to try and make sure that their members have the best future possible after Brexit. In regards to this new information, the FTA have acknowledged that the Government understand the need for a solution that will not significantly damage the UK economy. However, in order to ensure that the best possible agreement is reached, a knowledge and understanding of how trade relationships are formed and held together is crucial in order to carry on trading with the other EU27 countries while also satisfying the EU bureaucrats.

The association has said they are eager to be involved in these negotiations in order to offer their input and develop customs procedures that will be effective post-Brexit. The FTA have again urged the Government to include members of the sector in their discussions in order to gain insight from someone with in depth industry knowledge when trying to get the best possible deal for the UK.

As a part of the paper released earlier this week, one possibility is that they Government could ask the EU for a temporary customs union after the UK leaves the EU while a trade deal is negotiated. For the logistics industry, it is vital that a trading relationship is formed as smoothly as possible with the EU and the rest of the world, therefore it is vital that the government work with the industry in order to make sure the proper agreements and arrangements are in place.