Guy Platten, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, has commented on the necessity for free movement of goods following the news that the UK will ‘categorically’ leave the Customs Union after Brexit.

He said: “What we call the future Customs relationship does not matter.  What matters is that goods are able to move trade freely through ports without delay.

“Trade between the UK and the EU is done on a just-in-time basis, any delay to the movement of trade will have a profound knock-on impact into virtually every sector of the economy.

“Make no mistake, having trade move freely matters to the European Union as well as the UK.  Spanish farmers, Italian winemakers, German car factories and Scandinavian furniture manufacturers are all just as anxious as British industries to ensure a deal is struck.  

“What has to stop is the point-scoring and political gamesmanship. The shipping industry that moves 95% of international trade cannot plan for the transition until we know what we are transitioning towards.  We need progress and we need it now.”