NEWS | Brexit Britain TRADE
There is universal agreement across government that Britain’s future is as ‘a trading nation’. Yet that is where the consensus ends. Many Brexiteers want a full exit from the EU customs union, to eschew access to the single market and to favour the conclusion of free trade agreements with our traditional allies and the Commonwealth. Others speak more cautiously about maintaining single market access, particularly in sensitive sectors like financial services, and prioritising an in-depth agreement with the EU over free trade agreements elsewhere.
What Matters for UK Business in 2017
LABOUR MARKET There are a number of nations who will
want to do a trade deal with the UK in future – although most are careful to say that this can only take place aſter we leave the EU. Even where there’s a will, there is caution – which will likely keep talks informal for now. What’s most interesting is that, in this
era of protectionism and conflicting interests, many also express a private belief that doing a trade deal with the UK will be easier than doing a deal with the EU, as one country is easier to reach agreement with than 27. So there are some who believe that
there is a real opportunity to increase the flows of two-way trade between the UK and a range of other countries, something that we must continue to explore. Our growing network of British Chambers and business groups in markets around the world will be key partners in helping to seek out intelligence and opportunities in this regard.
12 DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Of all the Brexit-related subjects we’re dealing with, this is the most pressing one for many of the UK and multinational firms we speak to, and possibly the most frustrating for me. We continue to call for guarantees for existing EU workers in the UK. It’s the right thing to do for our businesses, for the economy and for the individuals concerned. Ministers, even those sympathetic to
our arguments, demur. They insist on their responsibility to British citizens living elsewhere in the EU, and that formal guarantees can only be made when both issues are resolved. The issue with this ‘bargaining chip’ approach when it comes to existing EU workers is that businesses are leſt with unacceptable levels of uncertainty about their workforce planning. My present worry is a short-term
crackdown on non-EU skilled workers and students – so that ministers can say they are making progress on migration. We will have to fight this as a business community, to protect both the interests of our firms and the universities and colleges that serve as anchors for many local economies and as links to many markets around the world.
dofonline.co.uk
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