31 January 2025 marked the fifth anniversary of Brexit. The British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce remains committed to strengthening economic ties between Slovenia and the UK, as well as supporting Slovenian businesses in expanding and succeeding in this 70-million market.

On this occasion the British Chambers of Commerce has called on the UK Government to use its planned EU reset to achieve concrete change and help drive UK economic growth.

Research by the BCC’s Insight Unit has shown that SME exporters have faced an uphill struggle to sell goods and services in Europe as paperwork and costs have significantly increased:

• Two fifths (41%) of exporters disagree the Brexit deal is helping them grow sales.   
• Only 14% of exporters think the deal is helping them to grow. 
• Almost half (46%) of businesses want the Government to make it easier for UK staff to work in the EU.  
• More than a third (37%) want a reduction in VAT requirements to export to the EU. 
• And a quarter (25%) want the UK to align with rules and regulations with the EU in key goods sectors.  

Trade with the EU is covered by the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) which was agreed on Christmas Eve in 2020, almost 11 months after the UK left. 

It allows tariff-free trade with the EU but requires British and EU firms to produce documentation and paperwork for all shipments. Services access is also limited by rules on business mobility.

Companies say the biggest barriers to exporting to the EU are customs procedures and documentation (45%), export documentation (39%), regulations and standards (35%) and tariffs (33%).  

Read more about BCC’s observations and recommendations here.