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Covid testing proposals to truck drivers arriving to clear the supply block. The EU: reopen connections
by Nicol Degli Innocenti
Covid testing proposals to truck drivers arriving to clear the supply block. The EU: reopen connections
3 ‘reading
The agreement between France and Great Britain to unblock the border is closed, but in the meantime, 1,500 trucks are stopped in Dover waiting to cross the Channel. Yesterday there were 500. The queues already of kilometers have lengthened since Paris announced the emergency closure to the traffic of goods for 48 hours for fear of “importing” the new variant of the coronavirus. All the countries of the European Union, with the exception of Greece and Cyprus, have suspended passenger connections with the United Kingdom due to the new strain of the virus that has doubled the number of infections in recent weeks in England. Numerous other countries, from Canada to India, have done the same, isolating Britain from the rest of the world.
The appeal of the EU Commission
Meanwhile, the EU Commission has called on member countries to reopen passenger and commercial transport connections with the UK, but discouraging non-essential travel. In a statement, the Commission said that freight traffic to and from Britain must continue without interruption, but that any unnecessary travel should be postponed “until further notice”. Bans on flights and rail connections must also be stopped to avoid supply chain disruptions.
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Close agreement between Johnson and Macron
An agreement to resolve the crisis in Dover has been reached between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron and will be announced late in the afternoon on Tuesday, December 22. According to London, it should lead to mandatory tests for all truckers from Wednesday. “Our governments are talking and the evidence is part of this conversation,” confirmed Interior Minister Priti Patel. Testing can be arranged quickly, but the details have not yet been finalized. ‘
Kent turns into a huge parking lot
Pending a settlement, Kent County has become a huge parking lot, with major health and logistical problems and protests from truckers who have been stuck in their cab for more than 24 hours without assistance. The industry association said “Kent authorities have given each of them a cereal bar, which doesn’t seem like enough.” The impact of the goods freeze is already being felt. Supermarkets have warned that there will be a shortage of imported fresh produce such as broccoli, salads and citrus fruits and some foods are already being rationed in stores. The British Retail Consortium said the situation needs to be resolved by tomorrow to avoid some empty shelves in supermarkets before Christmas.
The unemployment of the productive chains
Toyota has announced that it has stopped producing cars at its UK plants due to a lack of parts from France. The Christmas closing took place a couple of days earlier, the Japanese automaker said. The reopening is scheduled for January 4, in the hope that the problems at the border have been resolved and that there will be no new ones caused by Brexit. There are a few days to the December 31 deadline, when the transition period will end, but negotiations between London and Brussels to reach a trade deal have stalled. The two sore points remain a level playing field and fishing, even if, according to some rumors, a compromise on fishing quotas is possible and could be announced shortly. world trade, which involves border controls and the imposition of tariffs. So queues at Dover could become common.
