New year Brexit changes ‘permanently damage’ EU trade, says food body

New customs checks will make imports more expensive and slower, says Cold Chain Federation

Britain's small businesses should expect trade with the EU to be permanently damaged" from 1 January, the refrigerated supply chain trade body has said, after new customs checks take effect that it says will make imports from the bloc more expensive, less flexible and much slower".

Amid growing public dismay at the negative impact of Brexit, the Cold Chain Federation said speciality food imports could face the same 70% decline that affected exports of food by small businesses this year after Britain quit the EU single market and customs union.