# ‘Staggering’ cost of Brexit red tape for UK businesses revealed

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/staggering-cost-of-brexit-red-tape-for-uk-businesses-revealed/
- Published: 2026-11-04T22:00:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T22:36:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-red-tape-bill-uk-business-eu-b3079234.html
- Topics: Europe, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Brexit-related customs paperwork is estimated to have cost businesses at least £7.7bn.
- The figure covers 160.4 million declarations from 2022 to 2025.
- A proposed EU food deal would address only some sectors.

## Summary

An analysis of official HMRC figures estimates that UK businesses spent at least £7.7bn handling customs paperwork for trade with the EU between 2022 and 2025. The figures renew debate over Brexit’s economic costs, with business representatives saying the additional administration makes exporting more expensive and contributes to reduced trade.

The estimate applies a benchmark cost of £48 to 160.4 million import and export declarations filed over the four years; HMRC data put costs above £1.8bn in 2022 alone. M&S said it had to rent a warehouse to store paperwork, while meat processors said businesses must still meet EU standards to sell there and now face extra certificates and checks. A proposed agricultural foods deal may reduce some costs, but most sectors would continue to bear the administrative burden.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.