Feature Articles

The world’s top oil producer is following a diversification blueprint that opens up massive trade and investment potential to UK companies. Martin Clark reports.

When this series of articles began more than two years ago, Prime Minister Theresa May had just promised a smooth, orderly Brexit that would lead to a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU while leaving the UK free to strike deals around the world. As the date that she set by which all this would be completed (29 March) passes, the talks on trade with the EU have not even started, the whole negotiating process has become a byword for incompetence and chaos, and the Department for International Trade (DIT) is reduced to announcing that it has completed preparations for trade deals with Zimbabwe, the Palestinian Authority and the Faroe Islands. As two attempts to convince Parliament to back her deal failed, Mrs May was eventually left with no choice but to postpone Brexit past the date she had long promised.

It has often been said that the choice of local representative is the single most important decision in exporting success. It’s certainly true that the local representative will be the face of your business and products in their market, so they have a crucial role to play. Tim Hiscock looks at how an exporter should go about finding a representative and how they decide what the correct method of representation is?

This regularly updated events calendar notifies importers and exporters of forthcoming conferences, seminars/workshops, trade shows, trade missions and networking opportunities worldwide.

After riding a wave of optimism in the 1990s, South Africa is facing a string of very real challenges in 2019. Nonetheless, the country remains key to the long-term success and development of the rest of the continent. Martin Clark reports.

Several years after everyone else grew bored with quoting Aleksandr the meerkat, the Prime Minister introduced his catchphrase into Hansard when she told the SNP’s Westminster leader that if he (and others) want to put an end to Brexit uncertainty then all they have to do is to vote for her deal — simples. She was speaking as she yet again faced the House to make a statement about the ongoing negotiations. However, with barely a month left before what the Government in all its contingency legislation calls “exit day”, Mrs May this time had the threat of a revolt by Remain-supporting members of her Cabinet to deal with. Tired of what they see as continuous compliance with the demands of the strongly Eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG), several ministers in favour of remaining in the EU had made it clear that they would resign if she persisted in keeping the option of “no deal” on the table.

A new free trade agreement, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), entered into force on 1 February 2019 creating the world’s largest free trade area and, once fully implemented, eliminating customs duties on 97% of goods imported from the EU. It removes significant non-tariff barriers, for example, in the automotive sector it commits Japan to international car standards which will make exporting vehicles to Japan much easier.

Almost 50% of the UK’s international trade is with the other 27 countries of the EU (EU27). Businesses that trade directly or indirectly with the EU27 will be affected by Brexit and should plan for the impact on their operations.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced simplified procedures for businesses importing from the EU, as part of its no-deal Brexit preparations in the event of the UK leaving without a withdrawal agreement on 29 March. Pat Sweet reports.

Paul Clarke updates us on the ever-changing world of EU withdrawal.