Do administrative challenges represent reshoring opportunities?

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been thwarted twice in my attempts to buy goods from overseas – once from France and once from Canada, both of whom, on paper at least, we have trade agreements with. Each company told me that such orders simply weren't worth the administrative hassle involved in shipping to the UK any more. And I know I’m not alone in facing this challenge; my order might have been hobby products for my own use, but I’ve spoken to many businesses who are also finding it increasingly difficult to purchase goods from former trading partners. So I wonder if all of this might represent a UK manufacturing opportunity? If it does, then I suspect much of the impetus is going to have to come from machine builders, highlighting to customers just what is possible with today’s automation technologies. 

With best regards

Mark Simms, Editor
editor@machinebuilding.net