Cont: Brexit: Now What? The Perfect 10.

[GlennB]

Move to EU to avoid Brexit costs, firms told
Exporters advised by Department for International Trade officials to form EU-based companies to circumvent border issues

British businesses that export to the continent are being encouraged by government trade advisers to set up separate companies inside the EU in order to get around extra charges, paperwork and taxes resulting from Brexit, the Observer can reveal.

In an extraordinary twist to the Brexit saga, UK small businesses are being told by advisers working for the Department for International Trade (DIT) that the best way to circumvent border issues and VAT problems that have been piling up since 1 January is to register new firms within the EU single market, from where they can distribute their goods far more freely.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...dvised-government-officials-set-up-shop-in-eu

This is great! It's pretty much an invasion, getting behind enemy lines, infiltrating ... D-Day very nearly! Ha! That'll show Johnny Foreigner!

In other news, we were just reading that the charges for UK/EU international house removals (which we had last May) may skyrocket if/when duty becomes payable on the value of the contents. The report we read suggested a removal between UK and Portugal that used to cost £4k would rise to £14k, though the actual charge would vary from case to case.

Algarve Removals, Essex

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Move to EU to avoid Brexit costs, firms told
Exporters advised by Department for International Trade officials to form EU-based companies to circumvent border issues

British businesses that export to the continent are being encouraged by government trade advisers to set up separate companies inside the EU in order to get around extra charges, paperwork and taxes resulting from Brexit, the Observer can reveal.

In an extraordinary twist to the Brexit saga, UK small businesses are being told by advisers working for the Department for International Trade (DIT) that the best way to circumvent border issues and VAT problems that have been piling up since 1 January is to register new firms within the EU single market, from where they can distribute their goods far more freely.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...dvised-government-officials-set-up-shop-in-eu

Does this count as an admission that it was all a huge mistake? Because I don't see an other intepretation?

 

[Vixen]

This is great! It's pretty much an invasion, getting behind enemy lines, infiltrating ... D-Day very nearly! Ha! That'll show Johnny Foreigner!

In other news, we were just reading that the charges for UK/EU international house removals (which we had last May) may skyrocket if/when duty becomes payable on the value of the contents. The report we read suggested a removal between UK and Portugal that used to cost £4k would rise to £14k, though the actual charge would vary from case to case.

Algarve Removals, Essex

It seems the couple quoted in the article moved to the Algarve last year so should have been pre-Brexit? I suspect the Covid19 situation must have delayed things? Most of the 128,000 UK passport holders who departed the UK before Brexit kicked in would surely have made sure they did before the deadline.

One of Algarve Removals' clients who had already moved to Portugal last year, had no choice but to pay £25,000 to be reunited with their personal effects.

ibid

I gave away most of my stuff - donated newish clothes, shoes, coats and about 100 boxes of books, CDs, DVDs to Oxfam, who collected them for free. British Red Cross collects unwanted furniture. I wanted to design my new property from scratch, but still had an amazing number of packing boxes of every size I wanted to take with me, paying Pickfords £3K. They seem to have contracted DB Schenkers to deliver the stuff, which I only received some six weeks after moving in and having to chase them up (just as well as I was newly furnishing the place and putting up fixtures and fittings anyway - curtains, light fittings [took me a while to figure this out as here, it's not just sticking in a light bulb, you have to do the entire light fitting!]). To my mind, paying £25,000 for removals is nuts, as you might as well buy completely new furniture or even a brand new car with that sum of money.

 

[Lothian]

Does this count as an admission that it was all a huge mistake? Because I don't see an other intepretation?

I am not sure if it is an admission but it would be easier for businesses. It is not good for UK plc. Currently the tax on profits will all come to the UK exchequer. Setting up a co in the EU and the profits will be split between the EU and UK. Same with the tax.

 

[Andy_Ross]

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said a potential vote on a united Ireland would be "absolutely reckless".

She was speaking after a poll commissioned by the Sunday Times in NI found 51% of people want a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years.

Speaking to Sky News, the first minister said "we all know how divisive a border poll would be".

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said there was an "unstoppable conversation under way" on the issue.

The deputy first minister called on the Irish government "to step up preparations" for a border poll.

Provisions for a possible border poll on Irish reunification are included in the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which led to peace in Northern Ireland after decades of violence.

It states that the Northern Ireland Secretary must call a border poll if at any time it appears "likely" that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for a united Ireland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55783805

 

[Vixen]

I am not sure if it is an admission but it would be easier for businesses. It is not good for UK plc. Currently the tax on profits will all come to the UK exchequer. Setting up a co in the EU and the profits will be split between the EU and UK. Same with the tax.

And anyway, it would have been MUCH more sensible to set up an office/distribution centre in the EU BEFORE Brexit not AFTER Brexit. _DOH!

 

[catsmate]

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said a potential vote on a united Ireland would be "absolutely reckless".

She was speaking after a poll commissioned by the Sunday Times in NI found 51% of people want a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years.

Speaking to Sky News, the first minister said "we all know how divisive a border poll would be".

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said there was an "unstoppable conversation under way" on the issue.

The deputy first minister called on the Irish government "to step up preparations" for a border poll.

Provisions for a possible border poll on Irish reunification are included in the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which led to peace in Northern Ireland after decades of violence.

It states that the Northern Ireland Secretary must call a border poll if at any time it appears "likely" that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for a united Ireland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55783805

Oh good grief.

And anyway, it would have been MUCH more sensible to set up an office/distribution centre in the EU BEFORE Brexit not AFTER Brexit. _DOH!

They were assured that trade would continue without restrictions by Brexiteers and stupidly believed them.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Nigel Farage tweets

@Nigel_Farage
After all the Remainer scaremongering, Nissan is here to stay as predicted.

WTF? "As predicted" by whom? The Brexiteer line has been that the Japanese car makers were leaving anyway, taking manufacturing home.

Plus of course there is zero chance Nissan would have given this new work to their UK plant if Farage had got the No Deal exit he demanded.

 

[Lothian]

Nigel Farage tweets

@Nigel_Farage
After all the Remainer scaremongering, Nissan is here to stay as predicted.

Nissan is staying because of the free trade deal, which ties us to EU rules.......

Also Nissan staying needs clarification.
Over the last few years the big question at Nissan is which of the new models will be made at Sunderland. During that time we have seen both mass redundancies and recruitment. The key question is not whether Nissan will stay or go more will they continue to run the plant at capacity or will they slowly start running it down.

 

[GlennB]

...
To my mind, paying £25,000 for removals is nuts, as you might as well buy completely new furniture or even a brand new car with that sum of money.

It would still a considerable expense and, speaking personally, we'd have been devastated to lose some of that stuff, such as decades of photos, antique furniture pieces, etc etc etc. It would have been a case of returning to wherever the load was stored and sorting through it to pick out the vital items, which would be a colossal hassle and pretty expensive and would still leave the 'disposable' stuff to be disposed of.

In short, your airy dismissal and 'might as well buy new' attitude is thoughtless and superficial.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Food program on Radio 4 was looking at the fishing debacle today
Digging in to it the increase in quota the UK has ended up with is only an increase of 8% after 5 years with no increase in the Channel. Exclusive limit is only 5 miles, not the 12 miles that was the 'red line'
Exports costs to europe are showing a 50% increase with a doubling of the journey time door to door.
23 million quid for the Fishermen in the short term and a £100 million 'development' package promised in the longer term.
what if they spend it all on booze, fags, drugs and hookers.
Why aren't the government giving them vouchers or a hamper instead?

 

[Andy_Ross]

John Redwood tweeted

@johnredwood
There is plenty of support for growing more of our own food. Tell your local supermarket we want more U.K. produce. I am pressing the government to get behind our farmers and fishing industry. Not much choice of U.K. cheeses, fruit and veg in some shops.

 

[Andy_Ross]

That's right John.
Farmers can just turn around and produce home grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and soft fruit in the middle of winter with not enough greenhouse infrastructure to produce even a tenth of the demand.

He means turnips doesn't he?

 

[Vixen]

It would still a considerable expense and, speaking personally, we'd have been devastated to lose some of that stuff, such as decades of photos, antique furniture pieces, etc etc etc. It would have been a case of returning to wherever the load was stored and sorting through it to pick out the vital items, which would be a colossal hassle and pretty expensive and would still leave the 'disposable' stuff to be disposed of.

In short, your airy dismissal and 'might as well buy new' attitude is thoughtless and superficial.

It was common knowledge that the Brexit transition period ended at 31 Dec 2020 and all nationality and residency issues should be put into motion by then, both home and abroad in the EU. Anyone leaving it until after that date must surely have been aware they were likely setting themselves up for a lot of paperwork and border/customs issues.

The £25,000 figure is an imaginary one for a hypothetical person in the Algarve who now wants to move furniture and chattels to the UK. The author of the article which you yourself quoted I dare say is exaggerating to make a point.

It is of course the prerogative of anybody who wants to pay £25K for removals when just three weeks earlier it would have been £4K. Not very wise, IMV. But there you are.

 

[Vixen]

That's right John.
Farmers can just turn around and produce home grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and soft fruit in the middle of winter with not enough greenhouse infrastructure to produce even a tenth of the demand.

He means turnips doesn't he?

Who is going to pick all of the soft fruit now that the professional and efficient Romanian gangs have been sent packing? Brits don't want to do it that's for sure, despite much job advertising.

 

[Mojo]

John Redwood tweeted

@johnredwood
There is plenty of support for growing more of our own food. Tell your local supermarket we want more U.K. produce. I am pressing the government to get behind our farmers and fishing industry. Not much choice of U.K. cheeses, fruit and veg in some shops.

Don’t worry John, there’ll soon be as much choice of UK cheeses, fruit and veg as there is of non-UK cheese, fruit and veg.

 

[GlennB]

It was common knowledge that the Brexit transition period ended at 31 Dec 2020 and all nationality and residency issues should be put into motion by then, both home and abroad in the EU. Anyone leaving it until after that date must surely have been aware they were likely setting themselves up for a lot of paperwork and border/customs issues.

Weren't you taken by surprise by customs holdups and unexpected charges to do with a purchase? Or was that someone else? Was there fair warning about this kind of thing? I don't recall it.

 

[Vixen]

Weren't you taken by surprise by customs holdups and unexpected charges to do with a purchase? Or was that someone else? Was there fair warning about this kind of thing? I don't recall it.

I haven't purchased anything online post-Brexit. Someone in England sent me a parcel as a gift. I asked him if he'd completed a customs form and the answer was 'no', so I was quite aware of the need. He ordered it from Amazon and they didn't raise any issue at the time of order, which included VAT and postage.

The Algarve Removals firm in Essex you produced must surely have had some inkling things would be different after post-Brexit. That much is common sense. No more Freedom of Movement. Individuals moving effects into the EU from the UK or vice versa must surely have done their homework, or at least an international removals company? Pickfords have pages on what customs duties to expect moving abroad, depending on which country you are headed to. The Algarve Removal company should keep up to speed on these things and advise their customers accordingly.

 

[GlennB]

Just had a notification from UPS that there is a parcel for me. Because it is from the UK unless I have a Finnish ID I will have to pay €17.85 per diem after three days. This never happened before. They are calling it 'Customs Clearance'.

I hope they deliver to my door as my car is underneath a whole pile of snow and the oil light is flashing.

I don't really understand why a non-Finn would have to pay customs clearance from the UK. That doesn't quite make sense.

I haven't purchased anything online post-Brexit. Someone in England sent me a parcel as a gift. I asked him if he'd completed a customs form and the answer was 'no', so I was quite aware of the need. He ordered it from Amazon and they didn't raise any issue at the time of order, which included VAT and postage.

The Algarve Removals firm in Essex you produced must surely have had some inkling things would be different after post-Brexit. That much is common sense. No more Freedom of Movement. Individuals moving effects into the EU from the UK or vice versa must surely have done their homework, or at least an international removals company? Pickfords have pages on what customs duties to expect moving abroad, depending on which country you are headed to. The Algarve Removal company should keep up to speed on these things and advise their customers accordingly.

Well, it obviously came as a shock to you, hence your 'doesn't quite make sense' comment. Is it surprising that others were taken unawares?

 

[Vixen]

Well, it obviously came as a shock to you, hence your 'doesn't quite make sense' comment. Is it surprising that others were taken unawares?

Look, don't have a go at me. The Algarve Removals company must have known that after Brexit the business of moving Brits to Portugal and Spain whether for holiday homes, retirement or just to spend a few years doing whatever was about to come to an end. AIUI a massive majority of people in Essex voted leave. They should have been more careful of what they wished for.

My advice is: do your own research into Brexit/Covid19/election manifestoes because you can't expect the likes of David Davies, David Frost and Alexander Johnson to be trustworthy, frank and transparent with you.

Of course I feel sorry for all those ex-pats who didn't realise they needed to get their removals sorted before 31.12.2020. It's not me that's slapped on various customs charges and value-added tax! Have a go at the right people.