Customs Reform Needed As Import Rules Change

24th November 2025

Responding to news of the Government’s plan to widen customs charges to low value goods entering the UK, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “This has been on the cards for a while as the US has already made this change and the EU will do so at...

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Shifting World Order Makes Supply Chain Security ‘Critical’

24th November 2025

Responding to the launch of a Critical Minerals Strategy, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “If the UK is to keep its place at the table of the world’s biggest and most developed economies then it must diversify and improve its supply chain security. “Advanced manufacturing needs guaranteed...

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BCC Appoints New Director Of Policy and Insights

20th November 2025

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has appointed Kate Shoesmith as its new Director of Policy and Insights. She will take up the position at the start of December and lead a 10-strong team of policy and research experts. Kate is joining the BCC from the Recruitment & Employment...

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Budget Must Kickstart Sluggish Economy

13th November 2025

Reacting to the latest GDP data published this morning by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said:  “With a backdrop of weak business and investment confidence, sluggish Q3 growth of just 0.1% is unsurprising.  “But the data suggests the cyber-attack on JLR hit...

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September Trade Slump Rounds Off Weak Q3 

13th November 2025

Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said:  “September was a poor month for UK trade. Goods exports fell to the US, EU and the rest of the world. The impacts of the JLR cyber-attack were clearly felt in a slump in...

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Fix Digital Foundations to Unlock Growth

12th November 2025

Ahead of the Budget, the President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Government to prioritise fixing the UK’s digital foundations, to support growth, and capitalise on AI opportunities. In the foreword to a new BCC digital report, Baroness Martha Lane Fox raises concerns that businesses...

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Unemployment Up As Wages Still Outpace Inflation

11th November 2025

Responding to the latest labour market data published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “There is little comfort in this data for businesses or the government. Employers are being squeezed by sky-high employment costs, and we...

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Pre-Budget Caution from the Bank of England

06th November 2025

Reacting to the latest interest rate decision by the Bank of England, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “With the Budget just weeks away, inflation well above target, and a continued uncertain economic backdrop – today’s rate hold at 4% was unsurprising. The...

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Mayfield Report Can Help Renew UK’s Workforce

05th November 2025

Responding to the publication of the ‘Keep Britain Working Review’ report, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The workplace health crisis is damaging for individuals, employers and the economy. So, this report is a hugely important contribution to tackling the issue...

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Business Awaits Court Decision On Tariffs

05th November 2025

Commenting on the start of a US Supreme Court case on the legality of many US tariffs, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses and governments from across the world will be watching this case closely but could still end up waiting...

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