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Keir Starmer's government has been told that securing a deeper trading relationship with the European Union is a "critical imperative" for British firms, as a growing number of exporters report greater difficulty to do business under the UK’s post-Brexit agreement.

Growing Business Dissatisfaction with Post-Brexit Arrangements

Urging the government to hasten its reset with Brussels, the British Chambers of Commerce stated that the UK’s current TCA was not supporting them increase exports in the EU. Over 50% of exporters in a poll of nearly one thousand firms – the majority of which were SME companies – said the trade deal negotiated by Boris Johnson’s government was not helping them.

“Following a budget that did not to deliver meaningful growth or trade support, securing a successful EU reset is now a strategic necessity, not a matter of political preference,” said the BCC’s director of international trade.

Pointing to a continuing economic cost from Brexit, the trade body noted this figure represented a 13 percentage point increase from the proportion of dissatisfied companies in a similar survey a year earlier. It added that just four out of the 946 firms surveyed believed government support on navigating new trade rules was adequate.

Calls for Action for a Deeper Relationship

The intervention by the trade body – which speaks for tens of thousands of companies – coincides with growing recognition within the government's senior ranks about the economic impact of leaving the EU. Recently, Wes Streeting became the latest top Labour politician to advocate for closer economic ties with the EU, in remarks interpreted as a suggestion that Britain could join a customs union.

This kind of proposal would contradict Labour’s manifesto, which promised “no going back” to the EU internal market, customs bloc, or free movement. Starmer has also stated in the past he could not foresee a situation where the UK re-entered the EU in his lifetime.

Nevertheless, several pro-European ministers are thought to be part of a group who would like to see the government go further.

Business Proposals for the 2026 Reset

According to a document setting out a “business manifesto for the EU reset”, the BCC said the government must focus its work to reduce barriers to trade for exporters to help boost the UK economy. Quoting frustrated survey respondents, it said firms were finding it ever harder to navigate changes in EU and UK laws since Brexit.

“Since Brexit our export sales have virtually stopped. The TCA has had zero effect in winning back any business into the EU,” said a manufacturer in the North West.

The BCC outlined five key proposals for negotiations with the EU in 2026, including:

• A deal to cut border checks on agri-food goods.
• Finalising linkages between the UK and EU’s carbon markets.
• Establishing a youth mobility scheme.
• Securing full UK participation in the EU’s defence fund.
• Improving collaboration on tax and border simplification.

A government spokesperson said: “This government is removing red tape and trade barriers to support jobs, business, and growth. That’s exactly why we reset our relationship with the EU and are making strong progress in negotiations.”