Manufacturers call for Brexit strategy rethink

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 13.06.17
Publication Date 07/07/2017
Content Type

Further information

CBI Brexit Briefing, July 2017: Staying in the EU single market and a customs union until a new deal is in force

The complexity of the task of negotiating a free trade deal between the UK and the EU cannot be underestimated. The UK and the EU have a deep relationship, built on 40 years of economic integration. Reflecting that will require both parties to commit to seeking the most ambitious free trade deal ever signed. There is a real possibility that – with the best political will in the world – that deal will not be agreed, ratified and in force by the deadline provided by Article 50.

To provide the certainty that businesses need, transitional arrangements will be required. As far as possible, those transitional arrangements should replicate as much of the economic relationship that is in place between the UK and the EU at the moment. The simplest way of achieving that would be for negotiators to agree that the UK should remain in the single market and a customs union until a new deal is in force. Agreement of this would secure continuity for business operations, protect ease of trade between the UK and the EU, and give negotiators the time they need to make Brexit a success for both sides.Following the inconclusive results of the United Kingdom General Election on the 8 June 2017 there were calls by UK business representative organisations the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the The Manufacturers' Organisation (EEF)for a resetting of the UK Government's Brexit negotiating strategy.

Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: 'The Brexit negotiating strategy requires a careful rethink. Industry should be at the table, alongside whatever administration is formed, to help ensure we have the right negotiating position, which is something that's been sadly lacking until now'.

CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn wrote in an FT article 'For the sake of our economy and the prosperity of our regions, it is time to change tack. This election has shown that forward-looking and positive positioning is welcome. We now have the opportunity to reset — a reset that prioritises prosperity and will be appreciated by voters and businesses across Europe, because it will result in a better deal'.

David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, held a Brexit Taskforce meeting with representatives of the major UK business organisations at Chevening on the 7 July 2017 to hear the concerns of the business community.

Prior to that on the 6 July 2017 the CBI presented a Briefing called Staying in the EU single market and a customs union until a new deal is in force.

Also attending the Chevening meeting the British Chambers of Commerce called 'on the UK government to put British business and economic considerations first in the on-going Brexit negotiations'.

See also the links to a report published by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in August 2017 Transitioning from Brexit – not just semantics.

The report revealed what steps the government should take in a transitional period after leaving the EU and the implications for British busines.

Source Link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40251190
Related Links
EEF: Press Release, 09.06.17: General Election Result EEF Comment https://www.eef.org.uk/ndi/news-and-blogs/2017/jun/general-election-result-eef-comment
ESO: Background information: Making a Success of Brexit. A whole-economy view of the UK-EU negotiations (CBI, 2016) http://www.europeansources.info/record/making-a-success-of-brexit-a-whole-economy-view-of-the-uk-eu-negotiations/
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
CBI: Press Release, 12.06.17: Brexit negotiations require a new mindset http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/brexit-negotiations-require-a-new-mindset/
CBI: Press Release, 06.07.17: Stay in Single Market and a Customs Union until final EU deal in force http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/stay-in-single-market-and-a-customs-union-until-final-deal-in-force/
CBI: Speech, 06.07.17: 'Eyes wide open', the importance of a smooth transition to a new EU deal http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/speech-eyes-wide-open-the-importance-of-a-smooth-transition-to-a-new-eu-deal/
CBI: Briefing, 06.07.17: Staying in the EU single market and a customs union until a new deal is in force http://www.cbi.org.uk/cbi-prod/assets/File/pdf/cbi-briefing-on-transitional-arrangements-proposal.pdf
The Guardian, 06.07.17: UK business leaders to call for indefinite delay in leaving single market https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/06/uk-business-leaders-to-call-for-indefinite-delay-in-leaving-single-market
BCC: Press Release, 07.07.17: BCC at Chevening meeting: Put UK business and economy first in Brexit talks http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/bcc-at-chevening-meeting-put-uk-business-and-economy-first-in-brexit-talks.html
EEF: Press Release, 04.07.17: EEF CEO - Firms face Brexit ‘tipping point’ unless Government moves quickly to provide clarity and certainty on strategy https://www.eef.org.uk/about-eef/media-news-and-insights/media-releases/2017/jul/firms-face-brexit-tipping-point-unless-government-moves-quickly-to-provide-clarity
The Telegraph, 06.07.17: David Davis faces calls for transitional Brexit deal at Chevening summit as businesses demand 'common sense' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/07/06/david-davis-faces-calls-transitional-brexit-deal-chevening-summit1/
FSB: Press Release, 19.06.17: Business leaders join forces to urge Government to ‘put economy first’ as Brexit talks begin https://www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/2017/06/19/business-leaders-join-forces-to-urge-government-to-put-economy-first-as-brexit-talks-begin
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Politico, 09.07.17: UK business group: Government has no ‘clear plan’ for Brexit http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-business-group-government-has-no-clear-plan-for-brexit/
EEF: Press Release, 07.07.16: EEF statement on Chevening meeting https://www.eef.org.uk/about-eef/media-news-and-insights/media-releases/2017/jul/eef-statement-on-chevening-meeting
BCC: Press Release, 10.07.17: BCC: 'No deal' not an option for business communities http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/bcc-no-deal-not-an-option-for-business-communities.html
UK: GOV.UK: Department for Exiting the European Union: News, 10.07.17: Ministers step up engagement with small businesses https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministers-step-up-engagement-with-small-businesses
FSB: Press Release, 07.07.17: FSB welcomes government prioritising SMEs in Brexit talks https://www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/fsb-welcomes-government-prioritising-smes-in-brexit-talks
The Conversation, 14.07.17: The UK’s post-Brexit economy hinges on small businesses and innovation https://theconversation.com/the-uks-post-brexit-economy-hinges-on-small-businesses-and-innovation-80649
The Guardian, 04.08.17: End Brexit squabbles and nail down transitional deal, IoD urges ministers https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/04/end-brexit-squabbles-focus-transitional-deal-iod-urges-ministers
IoD: News, 04.08.17: Transition and Brexit – what you need to know https://www.iod.com/news-campaigns/brexit/articles/transition-and-brexit%E2%80%93what-you-need-to-know
IoD: Report: Transitioning from Brexit – not just semantics, August 2017 https://www.iod.com/Portals/0/PDFs/Campaigns%20and%20Reports/Europe%20and%20trade/Bridging-the-Brexit-Gap.pdf
Blog: The UK in a Changing Europe, 26.07.17: The importance of listening to business now http://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-importance-of-listening-to-business-now/
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Blog: LSE Brexit, 14.08.17: Listen to businesses now – we urgently need a transitional deal http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2017/08/14/listen-to-businesses-now-we-urgently-need-a-transitional-deal/
BCC: Press Release, 02.10.17: Business needs competence, not division, BCC warns Conservatives http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/business-needs-competence,-not-division,-bcc-warns-conservatives.html

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