Thread by @VoicesDeal

We are reproducing here a joint statement about Brexit by UK and European manufacturing industries which, like many statements by our industries, has to date received inadequate media and political attention. The statement was issued on October 21 by @MakeUK and @CEEMET . /1

<< Make UK-Ceemet: Britain’s manufacturers and their European industry counterparts call for the UK Government and European Commission to return to the negotiating table and find the way through to a deal. /2

Today Make UK makes a joint statement with CEEMET, its sister organisation in Europe whose members are the national employers’ organisations and federations, representing 200,000 companies across the whole of Europe and providing employment for 35 million people. /3

The call is strongly supported by Manufacturing Northern Ireland, EEF Northern Ireland and Scottish Engineering our sister bodies who represent manufacturing businesses in these critical parts of the country. /4

It is also supported by a wide number of specialist trade associations from across the breadth of the industry and many of Britain’s heartland manufacturers. /5

STATEMENT:
“While UK manufacturing is slowly recovering from the ongoing COVID crisis, essential to that recovery is the seamless operation of supply chains and the modern marvel of just-in-time logistics. /6

A no-deal scenario with our most critical trading partner, the EU, would be disastrous for manufacturing and for the millions more employed in supporting industries both here in the UK and across the EU. /7

“The impacts would go far beyond disruptions in trade at the border. Families & communities would be left hanging in the balance,affecting real people who need the well-paid jobs that manufacturing provides alongside its contribution of almost half of Britain’s exports. /8

“Manufacturing & engineering companies employ 2.7 million in every constituency up and down the UK & many millions more across the whole of Europe. Their products power our lives - the cars we drive, the technology behind our schools and hospitals, even the meals we consume. /9

Britain is a leading exporter of innovation, product and technical skills which are playing a critical part in boosting efforts to lead our economic recovery and the same can be said for many of the great manufacturing nations across Europe. /10

AS A CONSEQUENCE WE ARE CALLING ON THE UK AND EU TO:

1. Get back to the negotiating table
2. Ensure that we avoid the disaster of an exit without a deal
/11

3. Work to ensure that we achieve the best deal possible avoiding tariffs, simplifying rules of origin and minimising red tape and bureaucracy at the border

/12

Signatories below
Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO Make UK
Oliver Zander, Chairman, Ceemet

Paul Sheerin, CEO Scottish Engineering
Stephen Kelly, CEO Manufacturing NI
Peter Bloch, Director EEF NI

Plus 37 MAKE UK members and 22 affiliates and partners. /13

Full text: themanufacturer.com/articles/briti…

Issues by Hilary Douglas
Head of Corporate Affairs
Make UK
The Manufacturers’ Organisation

@ MakeUK.org /end