BCC Welcomes Enhanced Swiss Trade Deal

14th July 2026

Reacting to news of an upgraded free trade agreement with Switzerland, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “This is an important upgrade as Switzerland is one of the UK’s largest trading partners, especially in services. It will provide welcome certainty for thousands of companies in...

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EU Steel Quotas – The Final Jigsaw Piece

30th June 2026

Reacting to today’s EU announcement on new steel quotas for UK exporters, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:  “Today’s announcement on EU quotas is the final piece of the jigsaw to reveal the new landscape for the UK’s steel producers and users going forward. “Confirmation...

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Brexit Burden Must Be Cut

22nd June 2026

As Brexit approaches its 10th anniversary, the British Chambers of Commerce says the government must set out a clear plan to ease the burdens it has placed on business. BCC research shows over half of UK exporters (54%) think the current trade deal with the EU is making it...

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Time Running Out On Steel Quota Cliff-Edge

17th June 2026

The British Chambers of Commerce is calling on the government to change course on new steel quotas and tariffs which could decimate swathes of SMEs. The BCC wrote to the Business and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, in May, to raise its concerns about the plans. The letter said the...

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Trade Holding Up As Fuel Imports Shift

12th June 2026

Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   “Rising fuel prices due to the Iran War are now clearly influencing international trade. April was another quiet month for UK services trade with export volumes growing 0.2 per cent. “There was...

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US Tariffs Set To Continue

03rd June 2026

Reacting to the announcement of new US tariffs under section 301 of the Trade Act 1974, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is no surprise that the US is taking action, before its temporary section 122 measures expire, to make its...

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Firms Warn of Rising Costs from Iran Crisis

26th May 2026

Iran conflict impacts Four fifths of firms (80%) report an existing or expected impact from the Iran conflict, according to research by British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Energy price increases and shipping costs were the direct impacts most frequently cited by surveyed businesses. Over 800 firms took part in...

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Gulf Trade Deal ‘A Moment To Celebrate’

20th May 2026

Responding to the news that a free trade agreement has been made with the six Arab states which comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council, William Bain, Head of Trade Policyat the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This deal is great news for the UK economy; it will open up new opportunities for...

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Steel Tariffs Risk Serious Damage To UK Manufacturers

14th May 2026

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that changes to UK steel quotas and tariffs could add millions of pounds to manufacturers’ costs. In a letter to the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, the BCC said the proposed regime risks creating ‘real financial and logistics problems’ for downstream industries....

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IMPORTANT eCERT UPDATE

07th May 2026

Please be advised that, when submitting documentation via eCert, applications created prior to 1st May 2026 MUST NOT be reused or copied. All submissions must be completed as NEW applications. Additionally, please note that Box 6 (Certificates of Origin) and Box 8 (EUR1 forms) are no longer divided into...

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