Spectaris Managing Director Jörg Mayer welcomes the agreement between the EU and the UK, but also sees wasted potential: "In order to cushion trade barriers for the highly export-dependent companies from high-tech industries such as optics, photonics, analytical and medical technology, customs procedures with as little red tape as possible are needed on both sides of the border. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, new processes with high resource requirements are often a barrier to market entry."

The free trade agreement supports mutual, harmonized market access. However, Mayer complains that there is no planning certainty with regard to further regulatory costs because the contracting parties were unable to agree on a comprehensive agreement on future trade relations.

In addition, further import controls are already causing delays at the border. "These complicate companies' distribution management. Every standard deviation in deliveries intensifies the pressure on companies to plan for cost-intensive stockpiling," Mayer emphasizes.

One thing is certain: Even after Brexit, the smooth movement of goods should be ensured without congestion at the borders between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The association therefore welcomes a risk-based approach to customs inspections, simplified and, if possible, electronic customs clearance and the possibility of pre-arrival processing for all goods.