The UK's relationship with the European Union remains uncertain after March 29, but Brexit should have little impact on Switzerland. In February 2019, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and the British Minister for International Trade, Liam Fox, signed a trade agreement for the period after Brexit. This should ensure the smooth movement of goods between Switzerland and the UK.

Roland Kathriner - active on the Swiss market with his company S'Parts with British bikes from Genesis, Ridgeback and Saracen - is calm about the upcoming trade with suppliers from the UK: "Thanks to the UK-CH free trade agreement, trade should go smoothly even after a possible hard Brexit". And Kathriner is prepared for the time after Brexit: "I anticipate minor delivery delays, as the flow of deliveries via EU countries could be subject to delays."

What does Brexit mean for the British bicycle industry?

The situation is much more uncertain for suppliers from the UK who want to continue selling in the EU. This is because it is still unclear, for example, how the movement of goods between the UK and the EU will take place at the end of March. It is also currently uncertain how and to what extent goods between the UK and the EU will be subject to customs duties.A podcast on detektor.fm looks at what Brexit means for the British bicycle industry. Robin Warme from component specialist Hope explains how to prepare for the upcoming scenarios. Warme honestly describes how nervousness is spreading in the industry, but that it is possible to prepare for Brexit despite the uncertain omens.