Companies exporting to the UK are already transporting extra loads this month, to relieve some pressure in January, reports EVOFenedex, the Dutch Business Association for trade and logistics. For entrepreneurs, it is very unclear how exports to the United Kingdom will go in January.

“If there is no deal, significant problems for Road Transport and air freight are expected,” explains EVOFenedex. Uncertainty about reaching a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union is growing day by day. “A no deal is likely to lead to WTO tariffs, leading to new prices and affecting the competitive position of companies,” explains EVOFenedex spokeswoman.

Managing director of EVOFenedex Bart Jan Koopman states that achieving a sound trade agreement is, of course, the preferred scenario. With a view to the tough progress of the negotiations, the European Commission published a new set of emergency measures on Thursday. They’re supposed to avoid major logistical problems in a no-deal. It is about more opportunities in road transport and keeping air freight traffic open.

However, EVOFenedex does not consider the emergency measures proposed to be sufficient. “It can still lead to delays, additional price increases and shifts from unaccompanied to accompanying transport. In order to ensure proper port flow, it is necessary to minimise obstacles to road transport, ‘ explains EVOFenedex.

The British have not yet notified their agreement to the proposed emergency measures. The United Kingdom is primarily a major destination for Dutch producers of meat, fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants. Agricultural machinery, maintenance products and cleaning products are also important export products to the British.