British businesses and consumers have been saddled with a staggering £5.5 billion in hidden Brexit costs, according to a damning new analysis from Citizens Advice. The charity's research exposes the immense financial and administrative burden of new trading rules with the European Union.
The report, presented to MPs, calculates that Britons have spent over 60 million hours grappling with complex customs paperwork since the new rules came into force in January 2021. This equates to a hidden cost of billions, paid not in tariffs but in time, logistics, and frustration.
The True Cost of Red Tape
Citizens Advice found that businesses face an average of £60 in additional costs for every item shipped from the EU due to new administrative hurdles. For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this has made trading with their closest neighbours unviable.
"The government said it was striking a blow for less red tape," a spokesperson for the charity stated. "Instead, businesses and consumers have been hammered by it."
Mounting Delays and Supply Chain Woes
The analysis highlights that border delays are not merely an inconvenience but a critical economic issue. Lengthy hold-ups at ports disrupt supply chains, increase logistical costs, and ultimately lead to higher prices for UK consumers on everything from food to clothing.
This financial black hole and the associated delays present a major challenge for the government, which had promised that leaving the EU would unshackle British business from bureaucracy.
