Kukla UK sought insights from Miles Beale, Chief Executive Officer of the WSTA, who emphasises the critical need for a reset in the relationship between the Government and the wine and spirits industry. With the sector contributing over £22 billion in Gross Value Added and generating £76 billion in economic activity, Mr Beale underscores the importance of a stable policy environment, simplified customs procedures and continued alignment with the EU to maintain the UK’s position as a global trade hub.
“The new administration is an opportunity to reset the relationship between Government and our industry. The wine and spirits industry in the UK is worth over £22 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and generates over £76 billion in economic activity. The Government has promised to deliver a stable policy environment and strategic business tax roadmap, to allow long-term planning for business. We support these goals, and our economically significant industry is ready to work in close partnership with the Government to achieve them.”, says Mr Beale.
The WSTA CEO adds, “The UK wine and spirits trade is dependent on significant inward and outward trade flows as the second largest importer of wines and largest exporter of spirits in the world. We welcome the Government’s initial aims to increase alignment with the EU, a core market for our industry. To further ensure that the UK continues to remain a global hub for trade, regulatory divergence with international markets must be minimised and, where unavoidable, not interrupt the seamless flow of goods in the supply chain. Customs procedures should be simplified and digitised wherever possible, and the Government must ensure that SMEs are better supported to export – including better access to financial support.”
Miles Beale concludes, “The Government must also ensure the UK remains a competitive market for importers. The temporary easement for wine must be made permanent to avoid significant added costs and disruption in the supply chain, that will make the UK market a less attractive and more burdensome destination to sell into.”
The future of border processes post-Brexit presents both challenges and opportunities. By staying engaged with industry experts and government agencies, businesses can help shape the direction of these changes for the better. In this rapidly evolving environment, proactive involvement and collaboration will be key to ensuring a smooth transition and a positive impact on trade operations.
