3 November 2020
Dear Business Owner,
2020 has been an incredibly difficult year. Our country, and many businesses in particular, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. As a result of Brexit, from 1 January 2021 there will be many changes in how we do business with the United Kingdom. This could have consequences for your company. Over the past few years, the Dutch government has been keeping businesses and institutions informed about these consequences in various ways, and urging organisations to prepare for the coming changes. Many companies have done just that, but if you have not yet taken steps to this end, we would like to draw your attention to this issue again. We are also happy to help you prepare as effectively as possible for the new situation that will exist from 1 January 2021.
Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has no longer been part of the European Union. At present we are in a transition period, which means that not much has changed for most people and businesses. On 1 January 2021, however, the transition period will end and the new situation will take effect, and this will also impact the way we trade with the United Kingdom. It is not yet clear precisely what the new situation will look like, as the EU and the UK are still in negotiations about this. Whatever the outcome of those negotiations, things will change for you and your business.
For this reason, we would urge you again to check whether you have made the necessary preparations so that from 1 January you can continue trading with the United Kingdom as smoothly as possible.
The Netherlands’ Brexit Desk website (www.brexitloket.nl) contains information about the current situation, as well as tips and experiences shared by other businesses. You can also use the Brexit Impact Scan to gain insight into the potential impact of Brexit on your business, and what practical steps you can take. Lastly, you can apply for a Brexit voucher, which is a form of grant for tailored advice about dealing with the effects of Brexit and accessing alternative markets.
Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations between the EU and the UK, the situation will change for you. You will need to take account of stricter border controls if you need to travel to the UK for your work, for example. The new situation could also have consequences even if you yourself do not have business dealings with the United Kingdom: your suppliers may be dependent on UK products or services, for example.
We fully appreciate that the COVID-19 crisis has brought other concerns besides Brexit. At the same time, 1 January 2021 is approaching rapidly. So we urge you to prepare effectively and make sure that Brexit doesn’t stand in the way of your business. We are ready to support you in every possible way.
Yours sincerely,
Sigrid A.M. Kaag
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
Mona Keijzer
State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
