UK says no-deal Brexit could see 7,000-truck border queues

British government says re could be lines of 7,000 trucks at English Channel and two-day waits to get into France immediately after U.K. makes its ecomic break from European Union at end of year.

Michael Gove, minister in charge of Brexit preparations, described that as a worst-case scenario in a letter to logistics firms. He is set to give more details to Parliament on Wednesday.

government letter says that between 30% and 50% of trucks wanting to cross Channel may t be rey for new paperwork and regulations that will come into effect on Jan. 1.

“This could le to maximum queues of 7,000 port-bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days,” document said.

delays could last at least three months until companies get used to new systems and requirements, Gove's letter states.

Haul and logistics companies accused government of being woefully unprepared for changes coming in just over three months. government's Smart Freight system, designed to reduce risk of cargo delays, will still be in a testing phase in January. Work to recruit and train 50,000 new customs workers is where near being finished.

“We’ve been consistently warning government that re will be delays at ports, but y’re just t engaging with industry on coming up with solutions," Ro Haul Association chief executive Richard Burnett said.

U.K. withdrew from EU’s political institutions on Jan. 31 but remains in a tariff-free transition period until end of year while negotiators try to work out a future tre relationship.

Even with a deal, Britain will be leaving bloc’s single market and customs union, meaning some new checks and tre barriers. Without a deal re will be much greater disruption, with U.K. and EU having to slap tariffs on each ors’ goods.

A report by political research group U.K. in a Changing Europe estimated that, in long run, ecomic hit from a -deal Brexit could be three times impact of coronavirus pandemic. British ecomy contracted by a fifth between March and May as country went into lockdown, though it has since recovered some of that ground.

EU and U.K. say a deal must be struck by October so it can be approved and ratified before Jan. 1. But negotiators remain at loggerhes on key issues, especially European fishing boats’ access to U.K. waters and competition rules for businesses.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier is due to hold talks with his British counterpart, David Frost, in London Wednesday ahe of a ninth formal round of negotiations next week.

climate for talks has been furr chilled by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s introduction of a bill that would give U.K. right to override parts of legally binding withdrawal agreement it struck with bloc less than a year ago.

bill has infuriated EU, which has threatened legal action if Britain does t reverse course by end of September. Johnson shows signs of dropping bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

legislation has also caused an uproar in Britain. Five former prime ministers criticized Johnson’s willingness to break international law, and government’s top legal civil servant and most senior law officer for Scotland have both resigned.