The RHA has warned that leaving the European single market and the European Union Customs Union \u201cwill inevitably add a degree of administrative cost\u201d to UK operators and could slow down the supply chain.<\/p>\n
The association also called on government to grant \u201csignificantly greater resources\u201d to HM Revenue & Customs in order to avoid a logistics log-jam.<\/p>\n
Richard Burnett, chief executive at the RHA, said: \u201cWe need to maintain fluidity through the ports for the trucks that provide a vital trade service.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould the UK exit the single market and the customs union, it is clear that HM Customs will need to have significantly greater resources than at present,\u201d he added.\u201d We to have the ability to clear customs without delay, 24\/7. The Customs resource, as it stands, quite simply would not be able to cope.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was responding to a speech by prime minister Theresa May \u2013 in which she said the government would pursue \u201ca bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union\u201d as part of Brexit talks.<\/p>\n
The prime minister added that such an agreement would: \u201cGive British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets \u2013 and let European businesses do the same in Britain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat agreement may take in elements of current single market arrangements in certain areas \u2013 on the export of cars and lorries for example,\u201d May went on to say, \u201cor the freedom to provide financial services across national borders \u2013 as it makes no sense to start again from scratch when Britain and the remaining member states have adhered to the same rules for so many years.\u201d<\/p>\n
The RHA said that the government needed to establish a working group in order to scale up customs resources in time for Brexit, which would include representatives from \u201cthe international freight industry\u201d to give the sector confidence in leaving the single market.
\n\u201cIt is essential for supply chains in manufacturing, food distribution and retail that HMRC has sufficient resources to cope from day one with the increased volume,\u201d Burnett said.<\/p>\n
He also called for clarification on the industry’s ability to bring in workers from abroad, particularly concerning the estimated 60,000 foreign lorry drivers the RHA believes are currently working in the UK.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"