Business
Customs Brokers Are Cheering on Brexit
Officials are getting ready for a boom from the extra paperwork needed to keep goods moving.
A ship docked at Felixstowe, Britain’s largest container port.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Across British industry, Brexit remains a dirty word—unless you’re a customs agent. These middlemen, who make sure goods don’t get held up at border crossings, might be just about the only businesspeople cheering for the divorce.
For a quarter-century, companies across the European Union have enjoyed frictionless trade, including no customs checks. As the U.K. prepares to leave the EU, businesses face endless paperwork to keep everything from car parts to furniture moving between Britain and its largest trading partner.