The issues at the ports highlight what could be on the horizon in Brexit Britain

It is only a couple of years since the then-Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, infamously confessed: “We are, and I hadn’t quite understood the full extent of this, if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing.” It seems now to be an innocent moment in a more innocent time. It is worth adding what Mr Raab says next: “And that is one of the reasons why we have wanted to make sure we have a specific and very proximate relationship with the EU to ensure frictionless trade at the border.” No one now can be in any doubt about how vital the channel ports are to commerce on both sides, and how dangerous it will be when the current “frictionless trade” comes to an end – which it will when the transition period comes to an end. Recommended Isolation and resignation on the Dover seafront as France blocks port Obviously, the complete closure of the French border is extreme, but if hauliers fail to get their post-Brexit declarations in order then their cargoes could quite conceivably be held up for hours if not days. Indeed the French government on Tuesday night agreed to allow EU travellers and UK citizens with EU residence who have a negative coronavirus test less than 72 hours old to enter France.