UK-EU trade deal has failed to help businesses expand in Europe

The trade and co-operation agreement was signed in December 2020 to enable tariff-free trade with Europe once Brexit took effect. Yet businesses say access has been limited by excessive red tape and rules on business mobility. Only 16 per cent of exporters believe the deal has helped them to grow sales in Europe, while close to zero thought government support in handling changes to trade policy had been “comprehensive”, according to the BCC, which surveyed 989 businesses, 96 per cent of which were small and medium-sized enterprises. The BCC has sent a series of recommendations to the government to improve…