Xann Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Quote Businesses say a global shipping crisis is causing freight costs to soar and UK consumers may soon see price rises for imported goods. On top of skyrocketing shipping rates, carriers are adding congestion charges for imports to Felixstowe and Southampton, because of severe delays. The logistics industry has written to the Department for Transport calling for it to help clear port backlogs. One freight director told the BBC the UK's ports are currently "broken". Global shipping schedules were initially disrupted during the early stages of the pandemic, but recently a surge in demand for imports and a backlog of empty shipping containers are causing bottlenecks at UK ports. Adam Russell, who imports home appliances such as heaters and air conditioners for One Retail Group based in London, said the situation is "scary". "I've always been able to find a way to keep the business moving, but if I can't find a way to move the goods into the country, then that's when the business stops," he said. "We used to pay $2,000 to ship a 40-ft container to the UK, now we're paying at least $8,000 up to $10,000. "Ultimately that means we're going to have to stop importing or we're going to have to pass that on to the consumer." He said it's "near impossible" to get goods out of China now because fewer vessels than normal are sailing to the UK and there's also a shortage of empty containers ready to be filled in Chinese ports. BBC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Nothing says “I’m deadly serious and determined to fix this major problem” like popping over for a chat whilst we have something to eat. I find the whole meeting over dinner thing really bizarre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Interesting thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 minute ago, StefanAVFC said: Interesting thread The irony being that if the UK had stayed part of the EU they would have had a say in the development of those regulations and a veto against the ones they didn't like. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ml1dch Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 36 minutes ago, LondonLax said: The irony being that if the UK had stayed part of the EU they would have had a say in the development of those regulations and a veto against the ones they didn't like. Surely the bigger irony is that if the UK isn't happy with those arrangements, then the consequence is just the equivalent of the penalty of those arrangements anyway. "If you deviate too far we reserve the right to put tariffs on things" "That's unconscionable, we can't agree to it" "OK, then we'll all just have to have tariffs on things" 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 13 minutes ago, ml1dch said: Surely the bigger irony is that if the UK isn't happy with those arrangements, then the consequence is just the equivalent of the penalty of those arrangements anyway. "If you deviate too far we reserve the right to put tariffs on things" "That's unconscionable, we can't agree to it" "OK, then we'll all just have to have tariffs on things" Except the UK will have 'taken back control!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted December 9, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2020 It just occurred to me t'other day - but if there is a no deal and say farmers face WTO tariffs on British beef sold in Europe, if something like that is going to be a disaster for the UK's farming sector surely the gov will just subsidise the farmers in the short term? I mean there's no guarantee they would, but would there not be the freedom of providing state aid for any sector? I fully expect this Tory gov to turn us into a Singapore style wart on the side of Europe, taking a hit on symbolic industries but coining it in elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Jareth said: It just occurred to me t'other day - but if there is a no deal and say farmers face WTO tariffs on British beef sold in Europe, if something like that is going to be a disaster for the UK's farming sector surely the gov will just subsidise the farmers in the short term? I mean there's no guarantee they would, but would there not be the freedom of providing state aid for any sector? I fully expect this Tory gov to turn us into a Singapore style wart on the side of Europe, taking a hit on symbolic industries but coining it in elsewhere. I think it's almost guaranteed. A useful comparison here is that having ramped up a trade war with China that badly hurt the business interests of American farmers, Trump simply paid them huge sums of money in compensation. Edited December 9, 2020 by HanoiVillan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enda Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 WTO rules also ban subsidies. See Airbus versus Boeing, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted December 9, 2020 Author Moderator Share Posted December 9, 2020 32 minutes ago, Enda said: WTO rules also ban subsidies. See Airbus versus Boeing, for example. Some types of subsidies to be pedantic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 It’s alright, Boris is going to come running back waving a deal like Charlie and a golden ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted December 9, 2020 Moderator Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 minute ago, Genie said: It’s alright, Boris is going to come running back waving a deal like Charlie and a golden ticket. Nah, both are going through the motions here. Ironically so both sides can say they tried as hard as they could, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted December 9, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2020 When no deal is announced the stockpilers will be snapping up the toilet roll again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 If there’s no-deal with the EU and no deals with anyone else then Boris ans the other vote leave brigade need to be arrested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 It's going to be fine, we'll be buying shitty cheap food and weapons from the Yanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted December 9, 2020 Moderator Share Posted December 9, 2020 10 minutes ago, Xann said: It's going to be fine, we'll be buying shitty cheap food and weapons from the Yanks. Nah, their shitty cheap food will be too expensive cos ov tariffs innit, that'll be the EUs fault somehow as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 (edited) 45 minutes ago, bickster said: Nah, their shitty cheap food will be too expensive cos ov tariffs innit, that'll be the EUs fault somehow as well Well they can get uplifted at the foodbank then. Edited December 9, 2020 by Xann 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Jareth said: When no deal is announced the stockpilers will be snapping up the toilet roll again. No chance, I’ve bought it all already Guaranteed there will be a massive knee jerk reaction by a proportion of society and hoarding will commence once more (most likely the ones who voted us out in the first place!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted December 9, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2020 23 minutes ago, theboyangel said: No chance, I’ve bought it all already Guaranteed there will be a massive knee jerk reaction by a proportion of society and hoarding will commence once more (most likely the ones who voted us out in the first place!) Tescos expect us to be eating more Cheddar, as Brie is likely to rise in price, therefore I'm gonna go Asda on Boxing day and hoover up all dem cheap ass cheeseboards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Follyfoot Posted December 9, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Jareth said: When no deal is announced the stockpilers will be snapping up the toilet roll again. I have had a bidet fitted, not sure how it works mind but I will be paper free hopefully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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