But other European ports claim the French could have an advantage and face LESS checks on lorries leaving for the UK as part of a key Anglo-French treaty. Two minutes of extra checks on vehicles would spark huge jams on approaching motorways into Calais, French officials believe. And there are even fears migrants could attempt to board UK-bound lorries backed up on motorways into the French port.
This month, Emmanuel Macron’s government unveiled its plans to handle a no-deal Brexit.
Customs and immigration officials have held crunch talks on how to handle extra checks frontier at the ports and Channel tunnel access points, according to The Times.
A ‘Fastpass’ system for lorries departing Calais for England would allow hauliers to complete customs documents online before arriving at the port.
Jean-Marc Puissesseau, chief of the Calais port authority, said: “There is a risk that we will have to stack lorries on the motorway, but we are doing our upmost to avoid that.”
But Xavier Bertrand, chairman of the Hauts-de-France region, which includes Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk, believes two minutes of extra paperwork for each lorry crossing would spark 17-mile queues at both Calais and Dover.
Speaking in July, Mr Bertand said: “If there are delays of two minutes there will be queues of 27km on both sides – that’s 54km [34 miles].
“Even at the moment you see queues of 1km to the tunnel – and that is where there are no checks. Imagine what it will be like with checks.
“We need to pressurise the French parliament and President Macron of the need to talk to the UK directly.”
Meanwhile, other European ports believe they are “Brexit proof” against possible traffic chaos in the event of a no-deal.
But Belgian and Dutch ferry hubs believe Calais has an unfair advantage after signing a treaty with the UK to allow streamlined customs’ checks.
The Le Bouquet accord would allow goods travelling from Calais to Britain to be checked only once.
But lorries leaving Dutch ports would need to be checked twice, with fears Calais is receiving preferential treatment.
Annika Hult, trade director of Stena Line, which operates from near Europe’s biggest port Rotterdam, has urged the EU to act
She said: “We want to ensure that there is no preferential treatment.”
Rotterdam handles 467 million tonnes of food each year and is the man entry hub for non-EU goods, but could try to wrestle business away from Calais after a no-deal Brexit.
One EU diplomat said: ”Competition is already cut-throat.
“After a Brexit no deal it could become beggar thy neighbour and the EU will be keeping an eye on what both the Dutch and French are up to.”