'Prepare for a hard Brexit' — County Kildare Chamber

A warning that every business now needs to plan for a 'hard Brexit' at the end of the year has been made by County Kildare Chamber, writes Brian Byrne.

In a statement yesterday, the Chamber's CEO Allan Shine said the 'casual' avoidance by Britain of applying for an extension to the Brexit transition period means that every business should be preparing for dealing with the British market on World Trade Organisation rules.

"Should that occur, it will make trade with and through Britain increasingly difficult," he says "Every business which trades, or uses products, components or services that are traded [involving the UK], is likely to be affected in some way."

Neglecting the problems of Brexit 'could stifle the recovery' of those businesses currently grappling with the Covid-19 crisis, the Chamber CEO says, adding that businesses will have to be realistic about how negotiations are likely to evolve from here.

"All the signs suggest that even if there is a trade deal completed between now and December it will be so limited in scope that for most businesses it may as well not exist. A hard Brexit is now a very likely outcome, businesses need to act accordingly.”

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy