Bedford firms exported hundreds of millions of pounds of goods to the EU last year as final Brexit deadline looms

Businesses in Bedford exported more than £150million worth of goods to the EU last year, new figures reveal.

Public spending watchdog the National Audit Office warns “widespread disruption” to UK trade with the EU is likely when the country exits the single market at the end of December.

HM Revenue and Customs figures show 556 businesses registered in the Bedford area exported goods to countries in the European Union in 2019.

This outward trade was valued at £190million – 56 per cent of the total value of exports included in the data.

The figures also show 773 businesses imported goods from the bloc at a value of £250million last year – 51 per cent of the value of all inbound trade.

The figures only include trade in goods, and not services.

A recent report by the National Audit Office said there was “significant uncertainty” about whether preparations will be complete in time for the UK's departure from the single market.

It added the Government could have avoided some of the problems if it had been swifter to tackle issues such as the number of customs agents to help traders.

Head of the NAO Gareth Davies said: “The January 1 deadline is unlike any previous EU exit deadline – significant changes at the border will take place and government must be ready.

“Disruption is likely and government will need to respond quickly to minimise the impact, a situation made all the more challenging by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Talks between the UK and EU continue this week as negotiators try to finalise a trade deal before the end of the year.

If they fail to do so, World Trade Organisation rules would kick in, which could increase the cost of imports and exports.

The talks continue as the House of Lords voted to remove controversial parts of the UK Internal Market Bill, which would allow the Government to break international laws and override parts of its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.

It would mean ministers could determine state aid rules in Northern Ireland and checks on goods moving between the nation and the rest of the UK.

US President-Elect Joe Biden is among those who say the proposed law could lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and has warned a US-UK trade deal is “contingent” on preventing this.

In the Bedford area, businesses exported goods to non-EU countries at a value of £148million in 2019, while imports from outside the bloc were valued at £243million.