The British Ports Association (BPA) has welcomed an update from government alongside a commitment to work with industry on implementation on an agri-food agreement with the EU, but warned that it must bring meaningful improvements to border infrastructure to be effective.
The BPA, which represents almost every port in the UK, has also renewed longstanding calls for compensation for more than £100m of industry investment in border infrastructure that was over-specification at the direction of government. This infrastructure has been heavily under-utilised by government agencies which places ongoing costs on industry as the ‘operators’ of these border facilities.
The BPA is also urging Ministers to ensure that any additional infrastructure or modifications to existing border infrastructure for checks on non-EU goods that are needed as a result of this agreement are fully funded by Government.
We welcome efforts to reduce friction in UK-EU trade, however many UK ports have invested heavily in new border infrastructure which this agreement could make redundant.
It is important that government works closely with ports to address the risk of stranded investments and that it considers how modifications to these facilities can be financed so our sector is not disadvantaged.
There could also be implications for some non-EU facing ports, who might actually see increased border checks to satisfy the terms of the new agreement so there is much to discuss.
British Ports Association
Notes
The Government has today launched a ‘call for information’ and an update on ongoing negotiations with the EU around a new agri-deal, which was first announced in May 2025. The government press release is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/businesses-urged-to-take-simple-steps-for-smoother-trade-with-the-eu
For more information or background, please contact Mark Simmonds mark.simmonds@britishports.org.uk 07387090955.