VOA慢速英语2021--英国制鞋厂计算离开欧盟的成本

A historic¹ shoe company in Britain is feeling financial pressure because of Britain's withdrawal² from the European Union.

One hundred ninety-two-year-old Tricker's makes costly³ shoes and boots that can sell for more than $600. The company has sold products to everyone from Prince Charles to shoe fans in Japan. But, the company director, Martin Mason, worries about the new price of doing business with the EU.

Costs from companies that ship Tricker's products to buyers in the EU are growing. These extra costs could reach more than $135,000 a year for the company.

The trade deal reached in December of last year between Britain and the EU avoided costly tariffs⁵. But Tricker's is finding that paying the EU's value-added tax (VAT⁶) has become a lot more complex for direct sales to shoe buyers.

British exporters must now use different tax rates for the European Union's 27 member states. Tricker's has permitted shipping⁷ companies to collect the tax. Now, the shippers are seeking extra payments for each package sent to the EU from the shoe factory in Northampton.

It is a problem for companies on both sides of the border. The process is also causing delays in the arrival of goods. Shipments⁸ that used to take one day to arrive are now taking three or four. Also, when the shippers make mistakes, it causes more delays and paperwork.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the recent problems with trade are small and to be expected under a new system. Johnson points to the possibility for export growth if Britain gets trade deals with the United States, India and other countries.

Prices up, profits down

Adding to Tricker's problems are VAT costs from shipping companies for shoes returned to its base in Northampton. Some wholesalers, businesses that sell to other businesses, are sending the shoes back. So are EU customers in need of shoe repairs.

The expected Brexit-related costs of about $136,690 a year would be equal to almost 10 percent of Tricker's online sales. This in turn represents about 15 percent of total profit at Tricker's, Mason said.

Brexit refers to Britain officially ending its EU membership⁹, a move that took place one year ago.

The new taxes have led the company to raise prices for EU customers and pay the rest of the costs from its profits. "I think all companies here in the UK are getting extra costs as a result of the deal," Mason said.

Mason spoke¹⁰ to Reuters news agency from an empty shop floor in the factory. Normally, 86 employees would produce 1,000 pairs of shoes a week.

Last year, during the first stay-at-home orders, was the first time they had ever been closed, he said. "We've been through...world wars, financial crises¹¹, stock market crashes," said Mason.

"Even during the world wars, we were open, making boots for the army," he said. Dealing¹² with Brexit and the coronavirus combined has made things much harder. "We will get through it. It will be tough," he said.

British government budget experts say the country's economy could be about four percent smaller under Brexit in 15 years' time. However, Mason said Brexit has led to a few good possibilities for his company, which exports about 85 percent of its shoes.

An agreement with Japan would be a help and an agreement with the United States might lower import tariffs. Japanese customers make up more than 30 percent of Tricker's business. About 15 percent comes from the EU.

But for now, Mason's immediate¹³ need is to deal with the VAT issues. He said he hopes that common sense wins and that the problems of getting products into Europe will be solved.

"It is a bit of a barrier to recovery" after COVID, he said. "But... if wise heads get together and solve some of these issues, then hopefully it will become easier."

Words in This Story

ship –v. to send a product to a buyer or customer

tariff⁴ –n. a tax on imports or exports by a government

value-added tax (VAT) –n. a tax that is collected whenever a product or service is sold including among suppliers or wherever "value" is added

package –n. a container holding some good, product or object that is sent somewhere

tough –adj. difficult

customer –n. someone who buys a good or service from a business

1 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

2 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

4 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

5 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

6 vat   

n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶

参考例句：

• The office is asking for the vat papers.办事处要有关增值税的文件。
• His father emptied sacks of stale rye bread into the vat.他父亲把一袋袋发霉的黑面包倒进大桶里。

7 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

8 shipments   

船运，水运( shipment的名词复数 )； （从海路、陆路或空运的）一批货物

参考例句：

• The shipments are being expedited as much as possible. 装货速度在尽量加快。
• We received two shipments from Chicago. 我们收到从芝加哥运来的两船货物。

9 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

10 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 crises   

n. 危机；危险期

参考例句：

• Economic crises recur periodically. 经济危机周期性地发生。
• Great crises often call forth gifted leaders. 危急存亡之际常能产生天才的领袖。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

13 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。