Business leaders in Tayside and Fife were closely watching yesterday’s Brexit developments.
Alison Henderson, chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said more detail on the new deal was required to assess its impact on local businesses.
She said: “Businesses need a chance to analyse precisely what the terms of this agreement would mean for all aspects of their operations.
“This is particularly true for firms in and trading with Northern Ireland.
“As companies carefully consider the real-world implications, politicians must do the same.
“We will continue its work to support businesses to prepare as much as they can with the information that we have in front of us.
“We want to help build resilient businesses that can weather all sorts of global storms while grasping the opportunities that emerge.”
Alan Mitchell, chief executive Fife Chamber of Commerce, said firms in the area had wanted to see Brexit resolved for a long time now so they know what environment they will be operating in and can start planning.
He said: “It remains to be seen whether this deal will bring the resolution and clarity they want and need.
“What they expect is for the deal to be assessed objectively by all the political parties and not treated as a tool to serve their short term political interests.”
Meanwhile Vicki Unite, chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our local businesses are rightly concerned and looking for clarity.
“Perthshire Chamber of Commerce has increased the amount of Brexit support events throughout the area over the coming weeks to reach as many businesses as possible.”
National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Mike Cherry said many small businesses would be relieved there now appeared to be a credible pathway towards securing a deal that avoids a “chaotic” no-deal on October 31.
He said: “After three years of uncertainty that has stalled planning, hampered investment and slowed growth, a last-minute Brexit deal now seems within reach.
“Our members are saying that a no-deal Brexit on October 31, or ongoing uncertainty, will hit them hard – making it difficult for them to trade, invest, hire staff and ultimately survive.
“With thousands of smaller businesses feeling unable to prepare for a no-deal scenario in two weeks’ time, avoiding this outcome remains of paramount importance.”
Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, added: “On the surface this is good news but the devil is in the detail.
“Until we see what the deal means for businesses on the ground, many are reserving judgement.
“We need to see what this new deal entails for businesses in Scotland that trade with companies in Europe and Northern Ireland, and businesses that employ EU nationals.”
“Frankly, the announcement that a deal has been reached gives a slight feeling of ‘déjà vu’. We have been here before.”
