Industry organisation backs continued implementation period, free trade area and continued participation in regulatory regimes
The release of yesterday’s White Paper on the future relationship between the UK and the European Union (EU) is a step forward in addressing businesses’ concerns, according to ADS.
The trade organisation for companies in the UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors was reacting to government plans set out in the White Paper, aimed at giving businesses certainty ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019.
ADS has welcomed the government’s continued backing for an implementation period which will give businesses time to adapt to new arrangements and to a proposed UK-EU free trade area for goods.
The organisation has also welcomed the retention of UK participation in the successful regulatory regimes of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which it believes will be important to minimise disruption and ensure the industry continues to benefit from close regulatory alignment.
Free trade area is ‘welcome step’
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: “This White Paper on the government’s detailed proposals for our future relationship with the EU makes good progress in addressing concerns expressed by our industries and others.”
“The proposed free trade area for goods is a welcome step and the government’s plan for continued participation in important EU regulators like EASA and the ECHA will help secure frictionless trade that benefits both the UK and the EU.”
“There is now little time left before the UK leaves the EU to reach the comprehensive agreement for the smooth Brexit we need to avoid the disruption of no deal.”
He added: “We hope the EU will respond positively to this White Paper as a basis for further detailed discussions and we urge negotiators on both sides to work together to reach solutions that protect jobs and investment.”
Complex issues left to solve
ADS added there were further important and complex issues which were still to be resolved. These included customs arrangements and surrounding aviation safety regulators in both the UK and EU. ADS urged that technical discussions on these should start as soon as possible.
