BIFA approves of Brexit negotiation progress

After the European Commission and the United Kingdom released a joint report this morning highlighting progress on the U.K.’s “Brexit” from the European Union, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) announced its optimism that “discussions on transitional arrangements and our future trading relationship with the E.U. can now commence,” now that “phase one” of the negotiations has been completed.

According to BIFA, the U.K. government must now prioritize on agreeing to a transition deal and clarifying to U.K. businesses the type of trading relationship with the E.U. the government hopes to achieve. BIFA’s main concern is related to post-Brexit customs procedures.

“The phase two negotiations need to remove the uncertainty that is currently faced by a large number of traders over the matter of future customs declarations once the U.K. leaves the [E.U.],” the organization said. BIFA recommends the government increase its engagement with all organizations that engage in international trade, and said it will continue to lobby the government to share information about likely customs implications of Brexit.

BIFA also expressed positive sentiments about the decision to protect the rights of E.U. nationals in the U.K. post-Brexit, adding that E.U. nationals in the country “are a significant part of the workforce of many of our members.”