Most Dutch firms fear rise in red tape and taxes after Brexit

While 80% of Dutch firms expect Brexit to have an impact, half of them have no idea what to expect and have taken no action to deal with it, according to new research by the Dutch chambers of trade KvK.

‘It would appear that companies are taking a ‘wait and see’ stance because of all the uncertainties,’ chairwoman Claudia Zuiderwijk said. ‘But whether there is a deal or no deal, doing business with Britain is going to change considerably.’

One third of the company bosses polled said they expected that Brexit would damage their business prospects and seven in 10 are worried about increasing red tape. Other issues that concern people are levies and taxes (54%), import duties (51%), future differences in laws and regulations (51%), and delays at the border (49%), the survey showed.

Last month, research by the foreign affairs ministry suggested just one in five Dutch firms which do business with Britain were ready for Brexit.

Some 77,000 companies in the Netherlands do business with the UK, particularly those involved in the chemicals and food sectors. Earlier this year, the national statistics agency CBS said trade with the UK would appear to be stagnating because of Brexit.

Research by DutchNews.nl last month also showed that 40% of British nationals living in the Netherlands had done nothing to regulate their post Brexit stay.

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