Brexit: 9 Years of Disruption
- Arne Mielken
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
9 years after the referendum, Brexit still bites. Here's how it reshaped UK-EU customs and trade compliance.
Since leaving the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market, the UK’s trade regime has shifted dramatically.
For customs professionals, importers, exporters, and compliance officers, the Brexit changes are not history—they're today's operational reality. This blog outlines how the last five years have transformed import regulations, customs compliance, and cross-border trade between the EU, UK, and USA.
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Key Questions Covered in This Blog
What has Brexit changed for customs procedures between the UK and the EU?
How do import/export processes now differ for GB and Northern Ireland?
What does the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) actually do?
Is your company still affected by Brexit in 2025?
What customs disruptions and compliance burdens persist 5 years on?
Abbreviations Used in This Blog
TCA – Trade and Cooperation Agreement
GB – Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
NI – Northern Ireland
FTA – Free Trade Agreement
VAT – Value-Added Tax
ROI – Republic of Ireland
“Brexit was not a one-time event—it triggered a permanent shift in how UK-EU cross-border trade is handled. If you’re not adapting, you’re falling behind.” – Arne Mielken, Managing Director, Customs Manager
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What has Brexit changed for customs procedures between the UK and the EU?
On 1 January 2021, the UK officially left the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market, turning what was once frictionless trade into a bureaucratic minefield. Customs declarations became mandatory for all goods moved between the UK and the EU. For the first time in decades, companies had to navigate complex import and export compliance regimes, including:
Customs entries, safety and security filings, import licences,and duties on certain sensitive goods.
Suddenly, moving a shipment from Manchester to Munich involved almost as much red tape as moving goods from Manchester to Mumbai.
How do import/export processes now differ for GB and Northern Ireland?
Great Britain (GB) is now treated as a "third country" under EU law, but Northern Ireland (NI) isn’t.
Thanks to the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU customs rules still apply to NI. This means no customs checks on trade between NI and the Republic of Ireland—but plenty for GB–NI trade. A company shipping from Birmingham to Belfast must navigate customs formalities, including ENS filings and compliance with EU SPS rules.
Many businesses didn’t see this coming—and five years on, some still haven’t adapted. The result? Border delays, fines, and goods held at inspection points.
What does the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) actually do?
The TCA, signed in December 2020, promised zero tariffs and zero quotas—but only if your goods meet strict rules of origin (ROO). That’s the catch.
If your product contains components made in China, the USA, or even Switzerland, it may not qualify for duty-free treatment under the TCA. This has forced businesses to rethink supply chains, re-document origin, and invest in preferential trade compliance expertise.
The TCA is not frictionless trade. It’s a basic FTA with strict conditions and minimal mutual recognition. The burden of proof is on the exporter—and customs audits are increasing.
Is your company still affected by Brexit in 2025?
Ask yourself:
Do you export to the UK from the EU?
Do you import into the EU from the UK?
Do you move goods through the UK?
Do you use UK-origin materials in your EU-based production?
If the answer is yes to any of these, then yes—Brexit affects you. It affects your supply chain, your customs declarations, your compliance costs, and possibly your ability to trade duty-free under the TCA or other FTAs.
Five years in, the reality is this: Brexit isn’t over—it’s operational.
What customs disruptions and compliance burdens persist 5 years on?
Despite the TCA, disruption remains the norm, not the exception. Why?
Because Brexit dismantled deep regulatory and customs integration. The burden of paperwork, licensing, VAT registration, origin proofs, and regulatory compliance is now a fixed cost of trading.
Delays at ports like Dover and Calais continue. Many SMEs exited cross-border trade entirely, unable to cope with the cost and complexity. Even global companies struggle with systems integration and dual VAT obligations.
And then there’s sanctions compliance, which has diverged significantly between the EU and UK post-Brexit—especially on Russia, Iran, and China.
Arne’s Takeaway
The EU–UK customs relationship is not stable—it’s evolving. If you haven’t reviewed your import/export compliance strategy, the fifth Brexit anniversary is your wake-up call.
Get proactive. Audit your supply chains. Check your origin documentation. Don’t get caught out by increasingly strict EU and UK customs enforcement regimes.
Ready to future-proof your trade? Let’s talk.
Expert Recommendations
Conduct a full customs impact assessment across all UK and EU supply chain nodes.
Re-train your staff on UK import/export regulations—especially rules of origin and TCA usage.
Leverage customs consultants to validate your declarations and classification strategies.
Monitor divergence in sanctions, export controls, and VAT rules between the EU and UK.
Invest in digital tools that automate compliance workflows (especially for recurring trade flows).
Sources & Further Information
Disclaimer
This blog is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a qualified legal or customs professional.
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