COVID-19 has disrupted businesses’ ability to prepare for Brexit, but the lack of clarity on the UK-EU relationship is worse

Almost half of businesses report that COVID-19 has negatively affected their ability to prepare for Brexit. More than half listed uncertainty on the future arrangements between the UK and EU as a limitation on their ability to prepare for Brexit. This is higher than the proportion who listed COVID-19 as a limiting factor and far higher than any other factor. Furthermore, over 80 per cent of businesses are concerned about the implications of the Transition Period ending on 1st January 2021. Josh De Lyon, Swati Dhingra, and Edoardo Tolva (LSE) argue that COVID-19 has significantly disrupted businesses’ ability to prepare for Brexit but the greatest constraint on preparation has been the lack of clarity on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.