Are we windier than the EU? Genuine question? I would assume that since we are never that far, relatively speaking, from the sea then we are probably windier than most?

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

UK exports to the EU drop by 40% in January.

[Link]

Obviously a concern but there are mitigating factors:

1. Prior to leaving the EU for good companies stocked up in the months before hand in case there were problems in January. This meant they did not need to order as much from the UK and vice versa.

2. We went into lock down in January

3. The French imposed strict rules on lorry drivers.

4. And yes there were red tape teething problems.

Anyway we will have to see if the exports bounce back in the next few months before we can know for certain if this is a blip or a trend.

Edited by Badger11 (12 Mar 2021 10.26am)

One more point

Buying UK stuff is such a big hassle, unless its entirely necessary you just don't bother, it is complicated, expensive and delivery is uncertain.

And this, entirely foreseeable, is what is happening.

Exporting to the UK from the EU is ok now though as the transition has returned until next January.

For exports to the UK, it is minus brexit for EU exports, so the EU can resume without the problems that UK exporters have, albeit without great enthusiasm, the UK wants to eat after-all.

One can only feel derision for the UKs total lack of preparedness, lack of attention to detail, rushed negotiating stance playing into the EUs hands.

But the most striking thing about the UK is its baseless optimism on this and so many other matters.

If you can't focus on reality, then you can't fix it.

I think we need to make it clear to the EU that unless they start behaving reasonably we shall do to them what they are doing to us. It is a road that benefits no one but as you say if they intend to put obstacles in our way so be it.

One more point

Extremely worrying trade figures from the Food & Drink Federation on exports.

Hard to split out the Brexit affect from the Covid affect but if this persists this is going to be businesses going bust and job losses all over the place.

[Link]

You cannot compare a standard non covid month nearly a year before Brexit with a covid month immediately after Brexit and get like for like results.
I don't read anything into the figures at all except that I am amazed that we still exported so much given the conditions we were working under.

I think we are confused.

Importing to the UK from the EU is largely unaffected due to the UK government extending grace periods and not enforcing brexit rules.

Exporting to the EU is a completely different matter, brexit is full on and the UK is experiencing the potential loss of its main market altogether.

The UK could have extended the transition in view of covid but it was blind to reason.

Really brexiteers arguments are pathetic, a problem for every solution.

You have to have a reason for EU customers now buying from you, why would they?

It is difficult complicated expensive, before it was easy, so why?

I've never really seen tarrifs on imported goods have much of a positive impact on anything. Often the intentions seem fair but the end results were not as expected.
Ireland was held back for around 50 years by imposing tarrifs on British imports, Britain did likewise to Ireland and Ireland's main market was reduced. Domestic consumption could not replace the shortfalls. Goods were often smuggled from the North - which had outcomes which haven't been fully explored, in my opinion. Actually could have been a major factor in terrorism.
I see Britain in a similar situation. I actually suspect a lot of this is electioneering hardball, exacerbated by Covid 19, not least the poor vaccine rollout in the EU, which is not reported as such in our news at all. I suspect RT and Al Jazeera report on it but can't watch them. I expect a quiet deal will be done once there is less domestic turmoil. They've been rioting in Holland, for instance. Not exactly a hotbed of civil disobedience.
Macron, in particular, needs to mouth off for the old guard French nationalists to support him and not vote for Le Front Nationale. Merkel's coalition is becoming more and more unworkable, there are socialists, Greens and Conservatives, that have no common reason to support each other, other than to keep mammy in. The list of failed and undermined governments in the EU is frankly endless. The Irish government is at best nepotistic, always incompetent and proven to be corrupt, pretty much in the open. As for the UK government, well, you see that for yourself. Italians, I'll stop there. The failure of politics in the EU is palpable, sound bytes are the way to go. Johnson saw that - he's not as silly as some think.
But, mouth off and posture they will, but a deal will be reached or the bottom line will suffer the longer this goes on. God forbid EUMPs could even face wage freezes, action will happen then. They're enjoying their vaccines as we speak. Yet, oddly no reporting on that here. I wonder why?
A ridiculously long post with many errors. I must apologise. Patience will probably work but do expect there to be some posturing and brinkmanship and climb downs from all sides in between. It's jockeying for negotiating space currently. The usual fun and games whilst the average person pays for it.

Red and Blue Army!

3 months in ; did you not say in an earlier post that it needs 6-9 months to make comparisons?
After that if we are where we are you will have allies to your comments. Goalposts and all that st20

Ireland alone spent 1 billion euros, £850 million, less this year in January than same month last year, 75% of that loss was foodstuff, its a lot of lolly to lose! Wheres Jacob when we need him?