For the first time since the United Kingdom left the European Union, a Dutch trade mission with government officials will go to the country across the North Sea on Monday. The United Kingdom is one of the most important trading partners of the Netherlands.
45 Dutch companies will participate in the two-day mission to London of minister Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade) and State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (infrastructure). Sustainable mobility and artificial intelligence are central to the mission.
The UK officially left the EU in early 2020. It was still a transitional year, so the British still adhered to EU rules. But since last year, trade has become more difficult. There is more paperwork at the border and delivery times and costs have increased.
Trade between the countries has not suffered too much. Exports of goods to the United Kingdom fell slightly last year compared to 2020, but exports of services rose sharply. Imports also increased. The United Kingdom is the third export destination for Dutch goods after Germany and Belgium. The transit of goods via the Netherlands to the UK has declined significantly since Brexit. Presumably, these items are now imported directly by the British.
Mainly machinery, appliances and petroleum products go to the UK. The Dutch business community mainly imports manufactures, chemical products, machinery and pharmaceutical products from the United Kingdom. Minister Schreinemacher’s agenda also includes a meeting with her British counterpart Kemi Badenoch from International Trade.
