FedEx has called for the UK and EU to finalise a Brexit agreement and “provide clarity and continuity for businesses”.
Trevor Hoyle, ground operations Europe, Brexit lead and FedEx SVP, said of the decision to extend the deadline for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union until 31 January 2020: “FedEx has advocated for a Brexit deal that avoids creating new barriers, streamlines customs processes, maintains regulatory cooperation and makes it as easy as possible for businesses to bring their ideas and products to the global market.
“We therefore welcome the efforts made by the UK and EU to reach a withdrawal agreement, and hope that all sides will now use the Brexit deadline extension to finalise an agreement and provide clarity and continuity for businesses.”
Meanwhile David Jinks MILT, ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, said the extended deadline in tandem with a general election would give retailers, manufacturers and express delivery operators “an unexpectedly smooth period of Christmas trading”.
“A 1 November no-deal Brexit would have been a terrible outcome for businesses large and small, coming as it would have done slap-bang at the beginning of Christmas peak.
“It’s hard to believe we could come so close to the imposition of new red tape and duties on our exports to the EU just before Christmas. This would have precipitated a crisis in warehousing space as Brexit stockpiling and Christmas distribution collided.”
By Michelle Mooney
