Trade bodies outline pre-Brexit priorities to Government
Trade bodies outline pre-Brexit priorities to Government
A coalition of leading trade bodies has issued a joint statement to the Secretary of States and Ministers at various Government Departments highlighting the core objectives and priorities for the UK’s trade policy, prior to the triggering of Article 50 that is expected next week.
The coalition, consisting of the British Retail Consortium, the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales, as well as the Food and Drink Federation, has called for the Government “to adopt an approach that will ensure stability and continuity for agri-food and drink businesses,” highlighting the importance of exports to the industry.
The statement to the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business also addresses the strategic importance of the food supply chain for the UK, noting that it employs “3.8 million people from farming through manufacturing to retail and foodservice and generates £108 billion in value”.
It goes on to stress that “farmers need imported feed and inputs and they need access to other markets for their products, especially where demand for these in the UK is insufficient”.
In addition, the consortium calls for the Government to ensure “a smooth and orderly Brexit by agreeing transitional arrangements that maintain frictionless trade in goods between the UK and the EU,” while “avoiding customs duties on trade by securing an ambitious bilateral free trade agreement” with the union, in the medium term.
They also recommend “establishing the UK as an independent member of World Trade Organization, providing continuity and predictability by adopting the EU’s current schedule of Most Favoured Nation bound tariff rates”.
In terms of negotiation with “third countries,” the coalition calls for “establishing cooperation with third countries on regulatory equivalence and ensuring that all new trade agreements take into consideration differences in regulations and standards,” once the UK’s “trading relations with the EU” become clear.
It finally suggests “consulting with stakeholders and undertaking detailed economic impact assessments when trade negotiations are opened and before any offers are exchanged”.
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