Thread by @pmdfoster

🚨🚨🇪🇺🇬🇧🚚🚚🚗🚗🇬🇧🇪🇺🚨🚨West Midlands’ Tory mayor warns over post-Brexit car tariffs via @FT me with ⁦@AndyBounds⁩
...you might think all a bit late in the #brexit game /1 on.ft.com/3pzPuRe

@FT @AndyBounds Business leaders raised the issue in the weekly Economic Impact Group meeting, chaired by Mayor Andy Street...it relates to the fact that after #Brexit carmakers that use non-EU parts will face tariffs EVEN IF we get a 'zero tariff' deal.../2

@FT @AndyBounds As he put it: "the [European] Commission has made clear that it will not agree third country cumulation in any circumstances, which we regret, but obviously cannot insist upon" /3

ft.com/content/4fa473…

@FT @AndyBounds So Mr Street's letter won't have as news to @trussliz when it arrived...

...but barring a last minute EU U-turn (unlikely given @MichelBarnier warnings about the UK becoming an undercutting 'assembly hub' for the EU disappointment awaits /4

@FT @AndyBounds @trussliz @MichelBarnier Whether local trade groups think raising this now will work is not really clear...but it points, perhaps, to the level of surprise that might come when a "zero tariff free trade deal"...turns out not to deliver "free" (flowing) trade or zero-tariffs for everything /5

@FT @AndyBounds @trussliz @MichelBarnier The food and drink sector (which has similar problems as it uses, say Canadian wheat for example) is also very exposed to so-called 'rules of origin' issue which it says will risk a "hidden hard #Brexit" see this brilliant report for @Foodanddrinkfed - /6
fdf.org.uk/corporate_pubs…

@FT @AndyBounds @trussliz @MichelBarnier @Foodanddrinkfed This @Lexcommuk report Manufacturing in the Marginals shows just how m'fing jobs a) are more valuable than other jobs b) are key in several key marginal where m'fing jobs actually outnumber majorities /7

lexcomm.co.uk/manufacturing-…

@FT @AndyBounds @trussliz @MichelBarnier @Foodanddrinkfed @Lexcommuk So these realities will surely be weighing in on the @DavidGHFrost as he enters the final straight of the #Brexit talks....IF he can get the EU to be more generous on these 'rules of origin', what might he need to give away? What price the car industry? Or bits of it?/8

@FT @AndyBounds @trussliz @MichelBarnier @Foodanddrinkfed @Lexcommuk @DavidGHFrost There was brave talk in January of the industry being in 'secular' decline...but it has emotive resonance for British manufacturing and is key to Midlands in particular...worth some fish maybe?? I don't know. But we'll see soon enough. ENDS