Exports fell 68%! More than 1/5 of British retailers stopped selling to the EU

According to foreign media reports, a survey conducted on Monday showed that more than 20% (1/5) of small British exporters have temporarily stopped selling to the EU, while 4% of retailers have permanently stopped selling to the EU , which highlights the problems after the UK's Brexit trade agreement.

In a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses ( FSB), 30 of 132 exporters said they had temporarily stopped sales to the EU, while five reported permanently stopping sales to the EU.

The research , conducted from March 1 to 15 , showed that more than one in ten people said they had already established or were considering setting up an office in an EU country.

"Those doing business internationally are being hit with some incredibly demanding - and unfamiliar - paperwork, " said Mike Cherry, national chairman of the FSB. The trade deal between the UK and the EU came into effect on January 1, causing disruption and delays for some companies that have had to deal with new customs regimes and regulations .

The Office for National Statistics said this month that British goods exports to the EU excluding non-monetary gold and other precious metals fell by a record 40.7% in January from December, while imports dropped by 28.8%.

Exports to the EU through UK ports fell 68% in January compared with the same period last year, according to a report in The Observer .

The government has previously said the problems were temporary as it tried to resolve the issues.

With online shopping growing significantly, more and more UK retailers are engaging in online sales, and some retailers may sell their products to a wider customer base through exports.

In response, the UK government has continued to encourage UK retailers to check their export regulations in light of the new free trade agreement with the EU.

At the same time, in order to help emerging small businesses to start import and export businesses, the government has set up a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund. The scheme allows businesses to receive grants of up to £2,000 to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU through training and professional advice.

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