The EU working party responsible for advising the EU Brexit negotiators visited the port of Antwerp on Monday 28 May. During their visit to the Border Inspection Post and the Antwerp Gateway Terminal the European diplomats wanted to find out the practical implications of the various Brexit scenarios.
The party was given a presentation of the various checks and inspections carried out on goods entering or leaving the EU from or to a non-EU country, giving a clear picture of the impact that various Brexit scenarios would have. The group then moved on to the Antwerp Gateway Terminal where An Moons, Risk & Legal Director, and Ron Van Gastel, Senior Commercial Manager, explained the operation of the terminal.
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During the visit both the Customs and the FASFC presented their assessment of the practical consequences that Brexit would have. They noted that Brexit in whatever form will affect their inspection services and that this would bring additional costs for all countries with significant trading operations to and from the UK.
Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren explained:
The UK is an extremely important market for the port of Antwerp, generating an annual freight volume of more than 14 tonnes. Unfortunately there was a drop of 8% in our trade with the UK last year, probably due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Mr. Vandermeiren added that for the Port of Antwerp the most desirable post-Brexit situation would be one that stays the closest to the current trading conditions, as any kind of barrier to free trade in goods would have a negative impact on trading relations between the port and the UK.