UK Shuts Down as Europe Cuts Transport Ties over New Coronavirus Strain

Strategic Insights -

As Europe cut off transport ties with the UK due to a new coronavirus strain, sowing chaos for families, truckers, and supermarkets, the country's Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the highly infectious virus posed a danger to the country. The move by European countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Israel, and Canada shut off the most important trade arteries with mainland Europe, disrupting Britain's trade in goods, including fish and shellfish from Scotland. British supermarkets, including Sainsbury's, warned of gaps on shelves within days if transport ties are not quickly restored.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK has been shut off from Europe by 13 countries due to the new coronavirus strain, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Israel, and Canada.
  • Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK is doing everything possible to get transport ties restarted, including with France, which shut its border to arrivals from the UK.
  • British supermarkets, including Sainsbury's, warned of gaps on shelves within days if transport ties are not quickly restored, citing shortages of lettuce, salad leaves, cauliflower, broccoli, and citrus fruit.
  • The closure of the Channel Tunnel and ports for onward travel to France will affect the export of goods such as fish and shellfish from Scotland to Europe.
  • The UK government has triggered contingency plans to stack up trucks in Kent, part of its plans for potential disruption when the UK exits the EU's orbit with or without a trade deal at 11pm on December 31.
  • Eurotunnel, the rail service that links Britain with mainland Europe, has suspended services.
  • The British Retail Consortium warned that the closure of France-to-UK traffic would create trading "difficulties" in the busy Christmas period.
  • Logistics UK has urged people to stay calm and not to rush to supermarkets to stockpile goods.

Statistics:

  • 10,000 lorries pass through Dover every day, accounting for around 20% of the UK's trade in goods.
  • 13 European countries have cut off transport ties with the UK over the new coronavirus strain.
  • 23 different changes have been identified in the new variant of the coronavirus.
  • The UK government has stacked up trucks on the M20 motorway in Kent, where drivers are being held in anticipation of eventual ports opening.
  • 20% of UK trade in goods passes through Dover, where 10,000 lorries pass every day.

Sources:

  • France 24 (reprinted with REUTERS, AP)
  • Daily Mirror
  • The Sun