Daily Archives: October 27, 2020

Will French residents travelling with pet dogs to the UK next year have to obtain a rabies titration test for their pet?

A spokesman for the UKs Defra ministry confirmed that it intends to maintain the status quo with regard to pet travel from EU countries once Brexit applies fully next year. It will still recognise EU pet passports, as now, whether the EU passport was issued before or after January 1, 2021.

These EU pet passports will therefore remain valid documents for coming into the UK, as will British EU pet passports issued before December 31, 2021 (the UK will not be able to issue these after this date).

This will be sufficient for entry and so it will not be necessary to also obtain a rabies titration test to go to the UK (an antibody blood test to show that the animals rabies jab is working).

You will still however have to comply with the usual UK requirement of a tapeworm treatment, no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before travel, and as usual, the animal must be microchipped (or have a readable tattoo done before July 3, 2011).

However an issue may arise for returning to the EU, ie. France, and this will depend on whether or not the UK is deemed a listed country, under part 1 or part 2 of EU regulation 577/2013's annexe on pet travel.

The rules for pet travel from listed countries are simpler than those for unlisted, and are simplest if the country is placed on list 1. How a country is designated depends on agreement by the EU authorities.

The UK has made a request to be listed under part 1, but it is waiting for a decision by the European Commission. A commission spokesman was unable to provide any information on the progress of this but said "the process is ongoing".

Note firstly that a British-issued EU pet passport will not, in any case, be considered a valid document for entering France with a pet from January 1, 2021, so if you are using a British document you may wish to change if for a French-issued one to minimise potential paperwork complications on return.

Secondly, all pets entering the EU from unlisted countries, even if they are returning having previously left from the EU, must have had a rabies titration blood test.

If this test was done in the UK then it needs to be done at least three months before the animal comes into France, so it may be practical to have it done in France before you travel.

Once you have had it done once, the test does not have to be redone for the animals life as long as rabies booster jabs are kept up to date.

Should I change UK pet passport to French version?

How will British pet owners be affected by Brexit?

For more on pet travel next year and other important matters about how Brexit will affect Britons living in or visiting France, see our Help Guide onBrexit and Britons in France.It is in a digital format and updates automatically assignificant new informationis released and we updatethe guide.

Original post:

Brexit: Will pet need rabies antibody test to go to UK? - The Connexion

The staggering cost of a NO DEAL BREXIT for Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel has been revealed by a new report.

A new report reveals that France and Germany are set for a whopping 11.98 billion (10.7 billion) bill unless the European Union can secure a Brexit deal with Britain.

The blocs two largest economies would have to shoulder the burden of a 33.6 billion (30 billion) loss in trade with the UK in a no-deal scenario according to the new report. German insurance giants Allianz have revealed potential slumps in business for car-makers, chemical producers and other manufacturers across the bloc if chief negotiator Michel Barnier refuses to budge in the wrangling over a post-Brexit trade deal.

The report urges EU leaders, such as Germanys Angela Merkel and Frances Emmanuel Macron, to agree to a compromise to prevent a loss of 33.6 billion (30 billion) in the blocs exports to the UK because of the introduction of trade tariffs. It seems like Boris Johnsons delay tactics seem to be working- the UK could indeed come out on top after all. TW

Thank you for taking the time to read this news article Revealed- The Staggering Cost of a NO DEAL BREXIT for France and Germany. For more UK daily news, Spanish daily news and Global news stories, visit the Euro Weekly News home page.

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Revealed- The Staggering Cost of a NO DEAL BREXIT for France and Germany - Euro Weekly News

Many US expats living in the UK are caught between a rock and a hard place.

They are wondering if they should stick it out in Brexit Britain, or go home and brave a second Trump term.

Americans will be heading to the polls on the 3rd of November to decide if Donald Trump or Joe Biden will win the top job.

Supporters of both candidates feel this election could change their home country for good, leading some to consider jumping ship.

The London based accountancy firm, Bambridge Accountants, found that 5,816 Americans gave up their citizenship in the first six months of 2020, up an enormous 1,210% from the previous year.

While some renounce their citizenship because of onerous tax returns requirements, the firm also found that for many, the pandemic has motivated [them] to cut ties and avoid the current political climate.

Jamie Mac, 39, who is originally from Denver, Colorado but now lives in Edinburgh, is one such expat who is considering her future with the US.

I think the election will influence our decision to return...in this pandemic the cracks that were already there in the US have just widened even more, He said.

This isnt just a Republican versus Democrat, this is literally democracy versus the Trump administration.

He added: If Biden is elected I would lean more towards being ok going back, however Biden has four years and a lot of the things which need to be fixed in the US, like gun control and healthcare are going to take a lot longer than four years to fix.

Safety and healthcare are pressing issues for many US expats in the UK. Heather Bee, 46, who lives in York but is originally from Connecticut, is planning on voting for the Democrats in the upcoming election.

She said: Over recent years conservatism has become more extreme and religion seems to be interfering in government policy.

At this point the only chance the US has for recovery is stopping Trump. It would be irresponsible as a human being to not vote for Joe Biden.

But she said she is likely to stay in the UK regardless of the result.

Its a better life for our daughter, she said.

She doesnt ever have to have active shooter drills at school. If she gets hurt I dont have to stop and worry about whether I have enough money in the bank.

Theres a lot more security in her life here.

Lucius Reibel, 22, moved to the UK from Massachusetts to study at The University of St Andrews. Like Jamie and Heather, he sees a Trump defeat as essential for Americas future.

He said: I was a strong supporter of Bernie Sanders in the primaries, but I recognise how important it is to elect Biden and remove Trump from office. This country is coming apart at the seams after only four years; another four would lead us even further down this dark path."

But he believes that if Trump wins, the better option is to go back to the US and resist Trumpism.

I think abandoning my country in a time of crisis would be a cowards move. It would be an admission that this is Trumps country now, and that I didnt think it was worth trying to save, he said.

Things could get a lot worse in the US, but they could also get much better. I would like to believe that by staying [in the US], I can help make a better outcome more likely.

Not every US expat in the UK supports the Democrats.

Spencer Shia, 20, from Illinois, who studies at UCL, identifies as a moderate Republican with hints of libertarianism.

He is planning on voting for Joe Biden in the upcoming election, but for Republicans in the gubernatorial and congressional races also happening on election day.

He said: Good conservative policy like deregulation and tax cuts only matter so long as we are actually able to get them through, and I think Trump and his messaging has been quite alienating.

Trump makes them toxic ideas with the rhetoric and the language he uses.

America is more diverse and socially liberal than its ever been. Wait two or three election cycles and were not going to be winning elections anymore.

Like Lucius, regardless of the election result, he thinks it is better to return to the US.

I want to enter public service for the US, as corny as this sounds, I do want to serve my country, he added.

Lucas de Carvalho, 21, is from Maryland and now lives in Fife. He is a registered Republican but says he doesnt identify with the party as much anymore. Like Spencer, he will likely vote for Biden, and Republicans down the ballot.

Its hard to look at Trumps presidency as successful, he said.

Referring to coronavirus, he said: You dont have to be a doctor to know that the US has been a disaster in terms of the response, not just in terms of cases but how the economy has done.

He says that if Trump wins a second term he would be more likely to stay in the UK.

You lose confidence in the national project if you give a second term to somebody who seems to have bungled the coronavirus response so greatly.

Dom Toni, 70, is also a Republican who is unlikely to return home, but for very different reasons to Lucas.

He likes Trump because of his honesty and straight shooting with the facts. Hes not a politician.

Although he dislikes that UK gun laws are more restrictive, if Trump loses he will stay in the UK.

I don't want to live in a progressive left-wing society that will destroy all that is good about the US.

All you have to do is look at states and cities run by the left wing socialists. All broke, corrupt, high taxes, high crime.

Another Trump supporter wished to remain anonymous as he works in education, and he feels schools and agencies are extremely biased against Americans and Trump.

I like how hes direct and he gets things done.

He has been a man of action despite the fact hes had two different parties in control of congress.

The Democrats like to steamroll things and not be collegial.

He plans to stay in the UK for the foreseeable future.

Im scared of the unrest, I dont think I want to go back, referring to the riots that have broken out in major US cities in response to the killing of George Floyd in May.

Its going to get worse before it gets better.

Originally posted here:

US expats wonder whether to stay in Brexit Britain or brave second Trump term - Mirror Online

With Brexit kicking in on January 1, deals being seemingly renegaded on and of course the uncertainties surrounding Covid-19 and a possible recession looming, it does not look great for the regions manufacturers.

According to Make UK/BDO Manufacturing Outlook Q3 survey, investment intentions fell by a balance of -31% in the last quarter of the year.

The average SME in South West has lost 38% of their income as a result of Covid-19. Many SMEs in Devon and Cornwall are reporting significant losses due to Covid-19, with 32% seeing a decrease of more than 70% of their income. Meanwhile 14% of SMEs in the region have said the health of their business has already been damaged long-term.

While not reaching the levels of cutbacks seen during the financial crisis as yet, the trend downwards is following a similar pattern to that seen at the time and reflects the difficult picture for the aerospace sector in particular which accounts for a fifth of regional output.

Looking forward, given the impact on the sector, Make UK is now forecasting that manufacturing output will fall by almost 11% (10.9%) this year while it has downgraded its forecast for recovery in 2021 by more than a full percentage point from 6.2% to 5.1%. GDP is forecast to fall by -8.5% this year before recovering by +10.1% in 2021.

However, the national manufacturers body has warned that given the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit negotiations and the very real possibility of no deal, the combination of that outcome with the continued impact of the pandemic could cause further damage to investment prospects in the latter part of the year.

Jim Davison, region director for Make UK in the South West, said: Manufacturing has begun to climb away from the abyss that it stared into earlier in the year. But, make no mistake it is going to be a long haul back towards normal trading conditions, with talk of a V shaped recovery nothing more than fanciful.

Having emerged from three years of political uncertainty at the end of last year, increasing talk of a final no deal exit from the EU would be a final nail in the coffin for many companies.

If we are to avoid this and, the avalanche of job losses that would follow in already hard hit areas and sectors, it is essential that the first step towards a fuller recovery is provided by a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU.

Businesses however have welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Winter Economy Plan at the end of September, which aims to find an alternative to the furlough scheme that was due to come and an end in October.

The new Job Support Scheme, starting in November, will mean the government will pay part of workers' wages who have lost hours while a VAT cut to 5% will remain in place until next Easter, a

The cut in VAT to 5% for the hospitality and tourism sector will be extended until 31 March and that too has been welcome to promote demand and help business rebuild their cash reserves through the tough winter months.

Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the future ways to doing business will suit Cornwall better than the old 20th century model and while we are going through tough times now, there is hope for future growth too.

Eric Nicholls, the chairman of the Cornwall Manufacturing Group, said it has been a mixed picture for its members with manufacturers supplying the aeronautic and automotive industries suffering the most when those supplying the health and hospital sectors working flat out.

He said 80% of the members had made use of the furlough scheme and would do so again if it is proposed in another form by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

However he admitted that it had been tough and 60% of members had made redundancies with one in 10 jobs lost in the sector in Cornwall since the start of pandemic.

Mr Nicholls said: It has been a challenging year but not as bad as some sectors like tourism, leisure or hospitality. Our members are saying they have reduced order books and thats a concern. Any furlough 2.0 scheme will be helpful in retaining staff even on a part-time basis so order books can be fulfilled.

I think going into next year could be tough especially its impact supply chains. As for Brexit, a lot of the details are still missing but most firms are prepared as much as they can by now so it shouldnt be the problem we thought it would be a year ago.

For Mr Conchie added: We are looking better in Cornwall than the national average. Cornish businesses are naturally resilient and used to run on thin margins rather than fat cats. Our SMEs are well embedded in their communities and will do what they can to avoid redundancies.

People have been looking at innovative and creative ways to work differently or even create new businesses to avoid any recession. I think if our local businesses can hold their nerves until next spring we should be OK.

Some businesses have been forced to operate at 60% or 70% capacity because of social distancing regulations while others have still not reopened.

One such business to have seen production stop overnight was Bott in Bude which specialises in workplace storage solutions. On March 24, production was shut down and only gradually reopened in May.

CEO Nick Smith said: We are a family company with a resilient balance sheet. When we announced the shut-down, we decided to top up the furlough payment until the end of May.

Unfortunately, with the clear volume reduction, we had to right size the business and sadly we will have lost 41 employees.

At the start of the lockdown, furlough clearly helped, but we took the difficult action early. I do fear for those zombie businesses who have used furlough to drag out the inevitable.

Mr Conchie believes businesses need to remain confident which may be easier said than done in view of the situation with the pandemic and faltering Brexit negotiations.

He said: We are at an unprecedented moment in history when after giving our word we show some cavalier attitude to a deal with have signed. Our standing in the world could be damaged by this and that doesnt fill businesses with confidence.

Some precision manufacturers in the Duchy who export all over Europe are worried about the implications of Brexit especially if it leads to countries like France or Italy deciding to do their own.

If Covid-19 is kept under control I think the tourism industry could see a bumper year next year which is good for Cornwall. Brexit may actually help on that front as people will look to staycations again.

I have no doubt that the hospitality industry will once again push the boat out to offer a first class service to visitors next year.

He said the service sector had also shown signs of having adapted remarkably well to the new normal and seemed unaffected with estate agents for example enjoying a boom time.

He added: Im not expecting a cliff edge at the end of October when a third of people will lose their jobs. But I think the furlough scheme needs to be applied with greater agility.

Mr Smith believes supporting the British manufacturing, innovation and continued investment, will be key in the coming months especially as we head into further unknown with Brexit.

He said: Backing British manufacturing is definitely a strong message for all our stakeholders, particularly with Brexit looming. We will block and tackle those things outside of our control, but we are accelerating our efforts for the things we can control.

I would like to think by the end of 2021, we start to get back to 90% of pre-covid volumes. One thing is for sure, the strong teams in Bott will continue to adapt and innovate!

Matthew Sewell, Head of Manufacturing at BDO in the South West echoed the sentiment, adding: Other countries do provide good examples of consistent long term support to their manufacturing sectors. The UK should look to adopt a similar approach.

Deborah Fraser, CBI South West Director, said without an agreement with the EU, UK firms could face tariffs of up to 16.4%, burdening them with extra costs and paperwork.

This will divert company resources from investment planning and spending from for growth to managing and mitigating red tape.

She said: Getting a good Brexit deal would be an immediate boost to confidence in the South West. It will help protect tens of thousands of businesses across the region already under huge pressure from the pandemic, not least in industries like advanced engineering and manufacturing, green technology and digital and cyber technologies.

Getting a deal requires political leadership and compromise from both sides, which is needed urgently in the coming weeks.

This article has been produced for the Annual Business Guide Top 150, sponsored by PKF Francis Clark.The guide profiles the biggest firms in Devon and Cornwall and takes a comprehensive look at the sectors that dominate the regional economy.We examine how they have been affected this year and chart the Covid-19 bounceback.See the full list of Top 150 businesses here and in print in the Western Morning News.

Read the rest here:

How will South West manufacturers weather 'perfect storm' of Brexit and Covid-19 uncertainty? - Business Live