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UK & EU trade talks still in the balance 

Importers and exporters hold their breath on last minute Brexit deal 

Granted, this year’s coronavirus emergency has massively disrupted proceedings and progress, but nevertheless, after what is almost a full year to reach an agreement with EU negotiators we’re now heading into November with the prospect that the UK could very well leave the union on 31st December without a trade agreement in place.  Likewise trade negotiations with the USA have also hit an impasse. So what does this lack of progress with our two largest trading partners mean for the UK’s importers and exporters? 

As one of the country’s leading air and sea customs clearing agents, at Aerona we are only too aware of the concern now being felt by British businesses that are heavily reliant on continued trading activities with Europe and the USA. A hard Brexit deal (in other words walking away with no mutual agreement) or failure to secure a deal with the USA could be devastating for so many companies. 

A few days ago the Prime Minister claimed that the EU negotiations had ‘finished’ and it appeared that the UK was willing to leave the Union on the 31st December without an agreed Brexit deal in place. 

We now know that this statement was most probably a bargaining ploy, because only a very few days later the UK lead negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier resumed discussions.  Only this week Mr Barnier confirmed that he would stay in London for intensive discussions as both parties strive to unlock a Brexit deal that is acceptable by everyone concerned. 

Hopes are also that an agreement can be reached with the USA. Having said that, much could still depend on which candidate is ultimately successful in the imminent presidential election. Talk about brinkmanship! 

At Aerona we’ve been watching all the toings and froings of these negotiations extremely carefully and whilst we remain fairly optimistic, we are fully aware that for so many UK based importers and exporters there is an awful lot riding on the continuation and successful outcome of trade talks both with Europe and the USA. 

Whatever the outcome though, we have to say that we are now seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the negotiating tunnel together with what appears to be a renewed desire by all parties involved to ensure that an acceptable Brexit deal is done. 

We are also hopeful that the UK’s long-standing ‘special relationship’ with the USA will continue to thrive without any serious damage to our mutual trading agreements. 

One thing we at Aerona are absolutely certain about is that whichever way the negotiations go we will always be available to assist British companies who need to arrange exports or imports to and from Europe, the USA … and the rest of the world.

If you need to bring goods into the UK or export goods abroad then please do not hesitate to contact us. You can call us on: 0161 652 3443. You can also email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or you can send us an online message using the form that can be found on our Contact page.