Reacting to the planned introduction of an extra 25 percent tariff on UK exports of cars and other automotives to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “Businesses were already looking with trepidation towards next week’s planned reciprocal tariffs before this fresh upheaval was announced....
Read moreThe Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement today and as expected it did nothing material to ease the current pressures on business, at least not in the short term. All the advance speculation and chatter was about cuts to welfare and increased defence spending and those were the dominant themes....
Read moreResponding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today the Chancellor saw a small dip in inflation, however her statement was made against a backdrop of downgraded economic growth for 2025. It all paints a challenging spring landscape as businesses...
Read moreReacting to the latest inflation data, published by the ONS this morning, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Today’s data showing the CPI rate slowed to 2.8% in February is good news, but it’s too early to be certain on the direction of...
Read moreIain McNab, Head of Policy at Essex Chambers of Commerce, reacts to the announcement that the Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project has been approved. “Essex Chambers of Commerce and the overwhelming majority of its membership has long recognised the need for a Lower Thames...
Read moreGreater Anglia has been named Operator of the Year at the Spotlight Rail Awards 2025. It is the third national “operator of the year award” GA has received in the last seven months, following on from the Passenger Operator of the Year award at the National Rail Awards and...
Read moreSpeaking ahead of Wednesday’s Spring Statement, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses are feeling battered and bruised by the heavy cost pressures looming within days. The Chancellor must use her Spring Statement to offer some respite. “From next week, firms face an unpalatable...
Read moreReacting to a speech by the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, at the BCC’s Driving International Trade Conference, Director General, Shevaun Haviland, said: “The Foreign Secretary’s announcements on a closer working relationship with UK business will be music to their ears. “Quarterly meetings, trade roadshows, better intelligence sharing, and a...
Read moreReacting to the latest interest rate decision by the Bank of England, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s widely expected interest rate hold highlights the tightrope the Bank is walking, in the face of mounting global uncertainty and rising cost pressures. “Our...
Read moreReacting to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The labour market remains a significant challenge for employers who are struggling with skills shortages, higher wage costs and the imminent hike in...
Read more
