... from major depots across the country. Although the protests came from the public and business the whole affair was initiated by the Haulage industry which suggested that the fuel price escalator was crippling their industry sending many small private firms out of business. It is fair to say that in the UK the rail and air networks are not developed enough to compete with road haulage for most commodities. With the fuel price being roughly the same throughout the country UK firms are not particularly disadvantaged as the market is relatively inelastic because of the lack of suitable competition can therefore pass most of the additional tax onto the customer. However because the UK is part of the European Economic Zone no tariffs or barriers can be put in place to protect the UK Haulage Industry from European firms, because of the developed trade links with Europe UK firms have ...

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