3 minute read
Hertfordshire Global
RECORD BREAKING YEAR
for Herts Chamber’s International Team
We are very pleased to report that even with 2021 being another severely disrupted year, the Chambers’ International Trade Department recorded assisting Herts companies to export around £600 million of goods, which is a record.
This shows that even with Covid and Brexit, trade is continuing apace, and the resilience of our local companies shone through. With Covid now, seemingly, and thankfully in retreat, international borders reopening, and certain restrictions being lifted, we are already seeing encouraging signs that companies are continuing to actively pursue export deals.
To further assist companies to export, the British Chambers of Commerce has recently produced a Trade Manifesto. The Chamber of Commerce network has always been a champion of international trade and there is no doubt that any business that embraces exporting will be better off for it. It’s one of the reasons why more than 60% of Chamber members trade overseas compared to just 10% of all businesses in the UK. The world of trade has seen huge disruption over the past two years and more change is on the way. We now stand at a moment where we must seize this opportunity to be in the vanguard of a world-wide revolution in new technology, digital services and Net Zero innovations. The Manifesto outlines, in some detail, our offer including advice on documentation, training, Chamber Customs and our Global Business Network (spanning 75 countries), along with what the BCC feels the Government can do to help and what they would like to see from the EU. For more details please see our website.
It is the aim of the BCC to double the number of UK firms exporting and if we use the considerable expertise, knowledge, skills, and networking ability at our disposal then we believe we can truly make a difference to exporters and the UK economy.
In the last edition of Inspire I wrote about the Changes to International Trade from 1st January. Below are a few more useful pointers. If you import goods into GB from the EU, you or the person moving your goods must check whether the goods need to be taken for an inspection on arrival. This can be done on GOV.UK under Check if you need to report for an inspection. You don’t need to be registered to use the service but will need the Good Movement Reference (GMR) to access the correct information. If you don’t take your goods for an inspection when you’re told to, you may be liable to pay a penalty up to £2,500. The person who created the GMR is responsible for making sure the goods are taken for an inspection.
The way you submit a declaration when importing goods into the UK has changed.
In most cases, you no longer need to manually arrive your goods on the system. However, there are some exceptions where you may need to. Please go to GOV.UK to read more about making a full import declaration and making a simplified frontier declaration. If you do need to arrive your goods manually on the system, you must do this by 11.59pm the day after the goods arrive in the UK. If you’re using a freight forwarder or customs agent to complete customs declarations on your behalf, you should make sure they’re aware of this information.
Further support
You can: • Watch HMRC webinars and YouTube videos on importing and exporting with the
EUHelp and support for UK transition -
GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Use the government’s free Export Support
Service, if you export to the EU Ask the export support team a question - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Call HMRC Customs and International
Trade helpline on 0300 322 9434 (8am to 10pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4pm at weekends).
Finally, please don’t forget Frances and I are very much here to help. Please do not hesitate to contact us. johnwoodruffe@hertschamber.com francesharris@hertschamber.com or for general enquiries export@hertschamber.com
Otodynamics has been a member of the HCCI for 25+ years. Working with the export team, in particular Frances, has enabled us to trade with new countries we wouldn’t have really considered, and the knowledge and advice given has been second to none especially with more complex issues. With forever changing overseas rules and regulations surrounding export documentation etc., the benefits to us and the services offered in terms of training and the ongoing advice and support has been second to none.
