Brexit
Brexit Treaty Forum: Temperature Rising
What happened: A packed-out Gibtelecom Conference Hall saw GFSB and Chamber members gather for a Brexit Treaty Members Forum intended as a listening session. Sector-specific business groups were also present at the session. It quickly became clear that this was less Q&A and more “questions and questions”. There are still too many unknowns, and anxieties (and tempers) are running high.
The mood: Frustration. Worry. Anger. A strong sense that the knock-on effects will reach far beyond importers and retailers. Concerns ranged from poor business licence enforcement, unregulated cross-border service providers and maintaining a level playing field, to accountability and even the perceived loss of Gibraltar’s uniqueness due to lost logistic routes and higher costs of importing UK goods under the Treaty.
Key themes raised by those present:
- Financial support to cushion impact.
- Clear, written operational guidance, including sector-specific handbooks.
- A coherent footfall strategy to replace lost capacity and protect trade.
- Fair and consistent enforcement, with no competitive distortions.
- A plan to protect Gibraltar’s Britishness – seen as an important USP when it comes to trade.
What’s clear: Businesses want clarity before implementation, not after. There is also a shared concern that once the Treaty is ratified, political focus may move on while commercial realities intensify.
Next steps: The GFSB and the Chamber will now distil the shared issues raised both at the meeting and since the announcement of the Treaty implementation date and formally present them to Government.
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