Government hits back at claims Brexit is stifling exports to EU

Whitehall rejects reports of 68% drop in goods exported and says freight flows at normal levels on some days

The government has sought to defend its record over Brexit after freight industry leaders claimed exports to the EU had nosedived since the transition period ended on 31 December.

When Boris Johnson announced on Christmas Eve that he had secured a last-minute Brexit deal he insisted there would be no non-tariff barriers" to trade with the EU.