Make "Made In Europe" Part Of Upcoming UK-EU Reset Talks,
Says Logistics UK
(Copyright, Logistics UK, reproduced with kind permission)
In response to reports that the government is considering the possibility of including the EU's "Made in Europe" plans as part of the upcoming UK-EU reset talks later this year, Ben Fletcher, Chief Executive of business group Logistics UK said:
"The UK government is right to press for 'Made in Europe' to be on the agenda of the UK-EU reset. As the representative body for a sector integral to trade, we support efforts to make European supply chains more resilient and competitive, but this must not come at the expense of efforts to reduce trade barriers between the UK and EU.
"The UK and EU have some of the most closely integrated supply chains in the world, with goods, components and raw materials crisscrossing borders every day. Any 'Made in Europe' policy should reflect this reality, rather than introducing new rules that force businesses to restructure established European supply chains or make UK-produced goods less competitive in our largest trading market.
"Logistics UK's analysis shows that closing the UK's trade-intensity gap could ultimately generate £12 billion in additional economic output. That starts with fixing the trade frictions with the EU, including SPS checks and paperwork, regulatory barriers and border processes which add costs and delay the movement of goods, and which ultimately undermine trade-led growth. And also means that preventing new barriers to trade is just as vital.
"We urge the UK government and European Commission to ensure qualifying UK production is recognised under Made in Europe measures, backed by appropriate rules of origin so that the benefits support genuinely European supply chains.
"Europe, including the UK, will become more competitive and resilient by strengthening the supply chains connecting trusted trading partners, not by putting new barriers between them."
Logistics UK is one of the UK's biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk
