David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research at ParcelHero has told a Department for International Trade (DIT) hosted conference that now is the time to export for the first time if a company has not done this to date.

The Selling Online event was held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and was attended by around 500 retailers and manufacturers. Jinks said, “A unique combination of the fall in the value of the pound, the current lack of tariffs, taxes and Customs delays on UK goods into Europe, and a high duty threshold for British goods in the USA, means there may never be a better time for UK SME manufacturers and retailers to take their first step into selling overseas.”

The ParcelHero head of consumer research also advised traders to take into account the possibility that Brexit may change the current highly favourable trading arrangements with European Union countries for the worse. “Exporters have never had it so good! It’s to be hoped that a soft Brexit will mirror EU Single Market and Customs Union arrangements as closely as possible. Certainly now is the most cost-effective time for businesses to dip your toes in exporting to Europe and start building relationships,” he added.

Jinks also warned that the US President may be set to reverse the US minimum duty threshold of $800 under which no duties and taxes are imposed on UK imports to the US, and take it back to the $200 level.

He concluded his speech by revealing a few tips and tricks that will help smooth the process of shipping overseas: “Not only is Exporting GREAT, to borrow the title of the DIT’s campaign, it is also far easier and cheaper than many SME businesses may fear.”