# Navigating the new rules post Brexit Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-05-16 Category: INVESTING Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/investing Meta Title: UK Exports to Flanders on the Rise: Post-Brexit Trade Update Meta Description: Discover how UK businesses are bouncing back, with an 18% increase in exports to Flanders in 2021, offering a gateway to the EU market. URL: https://financedigest.com/navigating-the-new-rules-post-brexithtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1057358690-1736815721046-compressed.jpg) _By **Astrid Geeraerts,** Head of Investment at Flanders Investment & Trade_ The EU has historically been the UK’s largest trading partner, so it’s been critical for many UK businesses that they can continue to seamlessly export to EU countries following the introduction of the UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement. It was no surprise, especially when combined with the impact of the global pandemic, that UK exports to EU countries declined in the first year of post-Brexit customs regulations. The raft of post-Brexit [customs regulations](https://www.financedigest.com/bahamas-regulator-holds-ftx-assets-pending-delivery-to-customers-creditors.html "Bahamas regulator holds FTX assets pending delivery to customers, creditors") and bureaucracy that businesses need to navigate to enter the bloc has created a complicated system for UK exporters. However, while [Brexit initially impacted](https://www.financedigest.com/brexit-might-impact-our-migrant-pool-magazine.html "“Brexit might impact our migrant pool.”-Magazine") UK exports to the EU, the full-year trade figures for Flanders in 2021 showed that UK exports to Flanders are displaying strong signs of recovery after their initial post-Brexit decline. At a time when the economic outlook is currently looking more uncertain as a result of the crisis in Ukraine and the ongoing impact of the pandemic, this is one good [sign for businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/4-signs-you-have-what-it-takes-to-run-a-business.html "4 Signs You Have What It Takes to Run a Business") on both sides of the Channel that trade is looking healthier again. UK exports to Flanders initially slumped by 15.8% in 2020 following the UK’s departure from the EU. Thanks to the [entrepreneurial attitude of UK businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/dont-judge-a-business-by-its-location-entrepreneurial-creativity-could-help-fix-the-fraud-industry.html "Don’t judge a business by its location: entrepreneurial creativity could help fix the fraud industry"), exports to Flanders and other EU countries are now looking up again. The latest figures from Flanders [Investment & Trade show a significant](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-bolsters-sme-service-with-significant-investment.html "HERMES BOLSTERS SME SERVICE WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT") increase in UK exports to Flanders of 18% in 2021 on the previous year (2020). This month (9-12 May) saw HRH Princess Astrid and a ministerial [delegation lead the Belgian Economic](https://www.financedigest.com/bobby-kotick-leads-activision-blizzard-through-economic-turmoil.html "Bobby Kotick Leads Activision Blizzard Through Economic Turmoil") Mission to the United Kingdom as part of its continued commitment to trade relations between the two countries. With more than 400 participants, 214 companies and organisations and four days of activities, the mission was one of the largest ever organised by Belgium [anywhere in the world](https://www.financedigest.com/be-the-digital-eyes-and-ears-of-your-business-from-anywhere-in-the-world.html "Be the digital eyes and ears of your business – from anywhere in the world!"). Following the formal departure of the UK from the EU, many UK exporters have looked for a single access point for the EU. A key consideration for UK businesses is identifying a region in the EU that can offer them [strong onward trading](https://www.financedigest.com/aldi-uk-to-recruit-6000-after-strong-christmas-trading.html "Aldi UK to recruit 6,000 after strong Christmas trading") opportunities to help them navigate post-Brexit trade. With a myriad of post-Brexit customs [regulations to understand](https://www.financedigest.com/activision-aims-to-help-uk-regulator-better-understand-our-industry.html "Activision aims to help UK regulator ‘better understand our industry’") and comply with in each EU country, many UK businesses have looked for an easy, single-entry point to export to the UK. For exporters in the UK, Flanders has offered a [financially attractive single gateway route to exporting to counties across](https://www.financedigest.com/open-finance-can-help-unlock-innovation-across-the-financial-ecosystem.html "Open Finance can help unlock innovation across the financial ecosystem") the EU too. Thanks to the region’s affordable [real estate](https://www.financedigest.com/the-north-heads-south-to-mipim-en-masse-to-corner-new-real-estate-business-opportunities.html "The North heads South to MIPIM en masse to corner new real estate business opportunities") prices, absence of business rates, fast setup, excellent transport connections and its variety of grants and subsidies, its well-placed to provide a base for UK businesses looking to export onwards to other EU countries. As well as seeing imports to Flanders from the UK [bounce back](https://www.financedigest.com/biotech-stocks-pin-bounce-back-hopes-on-ma-boost.html "Biotech stocks pin bounce back hopes on M&A boost") in 2021, Flanders also outperformed the EU average for global exports (+18.93%) last year, exporting €380.5 billion worth of goods globally. This showcases Flanders as a powerhouse for both EU and [international trade](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-trade-credit-and-insurance-in-the-context-of-international-commerce-expansion.html "Managing trade credit and insurance in the context of international commerce expansion "). Flanders saw record levels of investment from UK companies in 2021, as British [businesses sought to set](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-set-up-your-first-ever-business-without-the-stress.html "How to set up your first-ever business (without the stress)") up a base in the region as a single-entry point to the EU customs union. This was a 63.33% [increase on the previous year](https://www.financedigest.com/food-fiber-market-to-exhibit-increased-demand-in-the-coming-years.html "Food Fiber Market to Exhibit Increased Demand in the Coming Years"). Flanders [Investment & Trade, the official government body for the Flanders region, has been supporting UK businesses through the challenges that Brexit](https://www.financedigest.com/brexit-no-obstacle-as-chinese-overseas-property-investment-doubles.html "Brexit no obstacle as Chinese overseas property investment doubles") has presented to exporters to the EU over the past two years. For UK businesses who need advice as they navigate post-Brexit trading and customs regulations, FIT has provided webinars and online resources, as well as access to [experts who can answer legal queries and make introductions to organisations such as banks and potential business](https://www.financedigest.com/6-expert-tips-to-turn-your-photography-passion-into-a-business-2.html "6 Expert Tips to Turn Your Photography Passion into a Business") partners. Despite the uplift in trade and exports to Flanders, uncertainty and questions post-Brexit customs formalities and UK export and import formalities are still the [top three topics of enquiries we continue to receive from UK businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/a-female-founders-top-tips-for-success-for-women-in-business.html "A female founder’s top tips for success for women in business") in 2022. Two years on from the UK’s exit from the EU, there is still widespread confusion about [post-Brexit customs regulations that are continuing to cause a headache for exporters and importers](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-delays-full-post-brexit-import-checks-until-late-2023-2.html "Britain delays full post-Brexit import checks until late 2023") alike. This April, the UK government announced a delay [to post-Brexit checks](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-plans-streamlined-post-brexit-border-checks.html "UK plans streamlined post-Brexit border checks") on EU food imports which were set to be introduced on July 1st. At Flanders [Investment & Trade](https://www.financedigest.com/unicredit-corporate-investment-banking-appoints-eriksatvars-as-head-of-structured-trade-export-finance.html "UniCredit Corporate & Investment Banking appoints EriksAtvars as Head of Structured Trade & Export Finance"), we’ve welcomed this delay. A flexible approach is needed to ensure [businesses in the UK and the EU can continue to trade in the current economic conditions and outlook](https://www.financedigest.com/lighting-maker-signify-cuts-2022-outlook-again-on-china-business-lighting.html "Lighting maker Signify cuts 2022 outlook again on China, business lighting") without further customs confusion to navigate. However, UK [exporters should make sure they’re prepared](https://www.financedigest.com/german-exporters-prepare-for-a-challenging-2023.html "German exporters prepare for a challenging 2023") for when these new measures do come into effect. Now scheduled to be introduced at the end of 2023, [businesses who will be affected should make sure they have the support](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-will-evolve-to-support-small-business-owners.html "How banks will evolve to support small business owners") they need to manage these new regulations in plenty of time. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---