Remainers seethe as Britain ‘to lose status’ as one of Germany’s top trading partners due to Brexit

Remainers have their head in their hands following news that Britain is on course to lose its status as one of Germany’s top ten trading partners due to... Brexit!

According to Reuters, Brexit-related trade barriers are driving German firms to seek business elsewhere, meaning Britain is on course to lose its spot in the top 10 for the first time since 1950.

In the first six months of this year, they report, German imports of British goods sank nearly 11 per cent year-on-year to 16.1 billion euros ($19.0 billion).

German goods exports to Britain rose 2.6 per cent to 32.1 billion euros, but there was an overall decline in bilateral trade, by 2.3 per cent to 48.2 billion euros - pushing Britain down to 11th spot from ninth, and from fifth before it voted to leave the EU in 2016.

A December 2020 survey of Germany’s BGA trade association showed one in five companies were reorganising supply chains to swap out British suppliers for others in the EU.

Meanwhile, Michael Schmidt, President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany said: “More and more small and medium-sized companies are ceasing to trade (in Britain) because of these (Brexit-related) hurdles.

“Many small companies simply can’t afford the extra burden of keeping up to date and complying with all the kicked-in customs rules such as health certificates for cheese and other fresh products.”

“The UK’s loss of importance in foreign trade is the logical consequence of Brexit. These are probably lasting effects,” Gabriel Felbermayr, President of the Kiel-based Institute for the World Economy (IfW) added.

So, as this further evidence that turkeys voted for Christmas emerged, people reacted with despondency and anger:

Brexit really is the gift that keeps on giving.