UK-EU border freight problems persist – and may worsen
Will Waters and Stuart Todd | 2021-01-21 13:52:32.0
As cross-Channel freight volumes return to normal levels and forwarders, hauliers and exporters struggle with hugely changed systems, UK government modelling predicts an increase in truck tailbacks and shipment backlogs
As UK-EU cross-Channel freight volumes return to normal levels and forwarders, hauliers and exporters continue to struggle with hugely changed systems, UK government modelling predicts an increase in truck tailbacks and shipment backlogs in the coming days and weeks. And freight forwarding sources believe the problems will continue for weeks or month, as exporters and forwarders deal with complex changes.
By Lizzy Burden, Deirdre Hipwell and Joe Mayes (Bloomberg)
Vital trade and travel links between the U.K. and continental Europe slowly reopened after France eased border restrictions, but huge backlogs that could take days to clear led to tensions at Britain’s busiest port.
Near Dover, police clashed with some truckers angry that they’ve been waiting since Saturday and are trying to get home for Christmas. Many are lined up for coronavirus tests that they need for passage into France.
France cut off shipments from the port in southeast England on Sunday because of concern over a faster-spreading variant of Covid-19 that prompted the U.K. government to lock down London and surrounding areas. That heightened a sense of economic isolation in the U.K. as the high-stakes political drama of Brexit edged closer to its end-of-year deadline.