British buyers have been urged to avoid stockpiling food in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The British Retail Consortium says retailers are increasing stocks to ensure “adequate supply of essential products” and that any impact on the food chain could affect fresh fruits such as fruits and vegetables, which cannot be stored for long.
Without a deal, the public will have to face more than billion 1 trillion in food tariffs and higher prices by January 2021, after January 2011, the trade body said, adding that this uncertainty is making it harder for businesses to prepare.
Chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retailers have no choice but to spend this extra on their customers, who will see the more expensive filter by 2021.
“Furthermore, the new checks and red tape that will be effective January 1 will create an additional burden for retailers and their customers.
“Retailers are doing their best to prepare for all events, increasing the stock of tins, toilet rolls and other long-lasting products so that there is an adequate supply of the necessary products.
“While the amount of preparation by retailers cannot be completely prevented, there is no need to buy more food than usual because the main impact will be on imported fresh fruits, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which cannot be stored for long. Period by seller or customers.
M. Dickinson warned that the public would “pay the price” for “failing to agree to a zero-tariff agreement.”
“Coronavirus has already shrunk by economic impact. Many people’s financial institutions are not seeing significant increases in food prices. In the interests of customers and businesses around the UK, we need to have an agreement within the next three weeks, ”he said.
Earlier, Barnes Ruby McGregor-Smith, president of the British Chamber of Commerce, told Sky News that “the UK needs an agreement as soon as possible”, adding: “We need to understand how to trade and what the rules are.”
“I think it’s very difficult to prepare because there are so many areas where we have no details,”
“We don’t understand quota tariffs or anything close to quotas. We do not understand the details of the source rules.
“We do not know what tariffs we are going to impose on the release of any product or arrival in the country, which means we do not know the price.
“While there is a lot of support for what we have seen in the epidemic, we still have a significant number of industries closed. After all, we do not know how we will trade from January 1. “
He added that “there could be some significant job losses” combined with a “lack of government support after March after the epidemic came out”.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma urged the people not to buy panic before the possible failure to reach a trade agreement with the European Union.
As soon as the supermarket was stocked before January 1, Mr Sharma told Sky News: “I am very confident that the supply chains will still exist.
“I would tell everyone to do your normal shopping exactly as you do and I think we’ll find that we’re going to be absolutely fine.”
