Greater than half of British companies are struggling to develop their gross sales in Europe, with commerce frictions worsening regardless of the UK-EU commerce deal, in accordance with new analysis from the British Chambers of Commerce.
A survey by the BCC discovered that 54 per cent of exporters imagine the Commerce and Co-operation Settlement (TCA) has failed to assist them enhance gross sales within the UK’s largest abroad market, an increase of 13 share factors in contrast with final yr. The findings underline rising concern that Brexit-related limitations have gotten extra restrictive fairly than easing over time.
The outcomes come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer pursues a much-trailed “reset” of the UK’s buying and selling relationship with Brussels. Nevertheless, enterprise teams are warning that progress has been too sluggish and that unresolved crimson tape continues to weigh closely on exporters.
Solely 16 per cent of companies surveyed mentioned the EU deal had helped them develop gross sales, whereas virtually none felt authorities help in navigating post-Brexit commerce guidelines had been complete. The BCC polled 989 corporations, of which 96 per cent have been small and medium-sized enterprises.
Companies cited ongoing customs forms, VAT complexity and restrictions on workers mobility as key obstacles to promoting into the EU. Issues round sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks, affecting meals, drink and agricultural exporters, have been additionally flagged as a serious supply of friction.
The BCC has urged ministers to prioritise sensible reforms in 2026, together with nearer co-operation with the EU on VAT, simplified customs procedures and a deeper SPS settlement to scale back paperwork and delays at borders.
It additionally warned about delays in scrapping the de minimis import exemption, which permits abroad sellers to ship low-value items into the UK with out paying duties. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled the loophole shall be closed, however not till 2029, a timeline enterprise teams say leaves UK retailers uncovered to unfair competitors from abroad ecommerce platforms.
Steve Lynch, director of worldwide commerce on the BCC, mentioned: “Issues with commerce friction seem like worsening, not enhancing. With a price range that did not ship significant progress or commerce help, getting the EU reset proper is now a strategic necessity, not a political selection.
“Companies need readability, certainty and supply at tempo in 2026, alongside a transparent imaginative and prescient for a way commerce with Europe will truly enhance.”
The findings land amid a broader political debate over whether or not Labour ought to go additional in repairing ties with the EU. Whereas Starmer has dominated out re-joining the customs union, senior figures throughout the social gathering have steered nearer alignment may change into an electoral problem in future.
There are tentative indicators that wider enterprise confidence is stabilising. Lloyds Financial institution’s enterprise confidence index rose to a four-month excessive in December, whereas client confidence additionally edged increased after months of pre-budget uncertainty.
Nevertheless, exporters say that with out tangible reductions in commerce limitations, optimism at dwelling will do little to unlock progress in Europe.
A authorities spokesperson mentioned ministers have been making “robust progress” in negotiations with the EU, together with commitments to conclude a foods and drinks settlement and to hyperlink UK-EU emissions buying and selling programs, measures it mentioned may add almost £9 billion a yr to the financial system by 2040.
For now, many exporters stay unconvinced, warning that until commerce frictions ease shortly, Europe will stay a progress alternative largely out of attain for UK companies.
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly certified journalist specialising in enterprise journalism at Enterprise Issues with duty for information content material for what’s now the UK’s largest print and on-line supply of present enterprise information.
