Yahoo Finance Give industry an early role in Brexit trade talks, says EEF
Manufacturers are demanding an early role in trade deal negotiations as Britain prepares to quit the European Union in an attempt to avoid pitfalls that only become apparent later.
EEF, the trade body for the UK’s industrial sector, made the call for business to be involved in talks about both the transition and long-term arrangements.
Having representatives from the sector take part in negotiations would “follow best practice models” in Canada and Australia, EEF said. The two countries have fully consulted business as they hammered out free trade deals to ensure that negotiators understand the implications of their proposals.
The call comes after Prime Minister Theresa May and EU officials struck a deal last week over borders and the rights of UK and EU citizens in each other’s territory. The agreement allowed talks to move on to the next stage, covering post-Brexit trade.
Stephen Phipson, chief executive of EEF, which represents 20,000 businesses in the manufacturing and engineering industries, said: “Now that the dust has settled it’s time for the Government to bring UK industry into the heart of the negotiations on a future transition or implementation deal, as well as the long-term future trade or partnership arrangements.
“This is standard practice in countries experienced in negotiating free trade deals and it is critical that businesses have confidence the UK’s negotiators fully understand the implications of their actions.”
Mr Phipson, who started in the EEF job this month, said the “starting point” his members wanted was a "'status quo' implementation period where businesses can get on with trade as usual while the final deal is thrashed out”.
He added: “We don’t want to be facing any more cliff edges and last minute brinkmanship, which is damaging for all forms of commerce and confidence.”
