ASM chairman co-chairs Brexit customs group

Peter McSwiney, chairman of Agency Sector Management (ASM) is to co-chair the Customers Brexit Group – a joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) think-tank focused on Brexit Customs issues.

The group is also co-chaired by Aaron Dunne, trade and customs cooperation at HM Revenue and Customs, and it includes JCCC members, industry representatives most impacted by Brexit, subject matter experts, and representatives from other Government Departments.

Group meetings will take place six times a year, and HMRC will give Brexit process updates during these meetings.

“Trade facilitation must be an integral component of Government planning and all Brexit negotiations,” said MacSwiney. “Any possible reintroduction of Customs declaration requirements and frontier controls could cause major disruption at the border, particularly, at the UK’s ferry roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ports and the Channel Tunnel.

“The freight industry needs to know both HMRC’s short and long-term view and how flexible it is prepared to be.

“It is also important to understand what interim arrangements, if any, will apply in the meantime and how the UK would work with any changes, short or long-term, within the Union Customs Code.

“Moving forward demands the involvement of all parties to ensure discussions are comprehensive and agreement is universal.”