Thank you for contacting me about the UK’s relationship with the EU.
The UK leaving the single market and customs union has led to changes at the border but I believe that the majority of businesses have adjusted well to the new rules.
The Government recognises that businesses may face additional challenges as a result of these changes and has worked extensively with businesses and industry to provide general support, raise awareness and resolve specific issues affecting certain sectors. The £20 million SME Brexit Fund helped to provide training and professional advice to businesses trading with the EU and the Customs Grant Scheme has provided over £69 million to support the transition to new customs processes. Further, the Export Support Service was launched in October 2021 to serve a single point of contact and entry for businesses exporting to Europe and helps businesses to navigate government support.
As an independent trading nation, the UK is now able to make free trade agreements with countries around the world to benefit companies in the UK. For example, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership delivers on a post-Brexit agenda for a modern, free-trading global Britain. The UK's membership represents the future of our global trade, partnering with Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, and emerging markets such as Mexico, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.