PPMAGroupnews-issue6_v2 copy

Time for answers
By Andrew Mint, Chief Executive
Officer of the PPMA Group
Brexit has created – and
will continue to create –
many business challenges.
This situation is not
helped by the lack of clarity from
government, with still far too many
questions remaining unanswered.
Whilst we now know the timeline for
some of the key milestones, exactly
how trade will operate going forward
is still unclear.
Two of the key issues are tariffs
and free movement of goods.
Additional tariffs are not helpful for
UK businesses, but I believe that the
free movement of goods – allowing
us to ship equipment to accommodate
the ‘just in time’ manufacturing that
is now commonplace – is even more
important.
As we navigate closer towards
our exit from the European Union, we
will endeavour to keep our members
up to date with any developments
that impact our business area. We
will also use our membership of
other associations to give us access
and a voice to central government,
should future issues arise which
could impact our industry. And
finally, we look forward to hearing
the views of Lord Mark Price,
Former Minister of State for Trade
and Investment, during his keynote
speech at the PPMA Show 2018 (see
p11 for more details). The former
Managing Director of Waitrose and
Deputy Chairman of The John Lewis
Partnership has stated his optimism
for a post-Brexit Britain, despite
voting to remain in the EU.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
View from the top
Location, location, location
By The Rt Hon Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Exiting the
European Union and International Trade
When it comes to manufacturing, there
is a basic concept that even the most
ardent supporters of leaving the EU
cannot skilfully spin away – geography
matters. Irrespective of their desire to
distance themselves from the EU, it is a
fact that our border will remain only 20.7
miles from Calais. It will continue to be
quicker, simpler and more profitable to
trade with France and the rest of the EU
than with countries on the other side of
the world.
I apologise for stating the obvious,
but over the last few years I have heard
too many people forget or even disregard
simple facts such as 47 per cent of our
exported goods and 55 per cent of our
imported goods are currently traded with
the EU.
As we speak, uncertainty over the
UK’s relationship with the EU post-Brexit
prevails and is already impacting our
economy. The UK’s economic growth
is one of the slowest of the G7 nations
and we know from the Government’s
economic reports that areas like
Sunderland, Derby, Coventry and County
Durham will be hardest hit in a ‘no deal’
scenario. My assessment draws a rather
gloomy picture of Britain’s economic
future outside the EU. But we must of
course look for the positives.
The British manufacturing sector has
a proud history as a source of economic
growth and prosperity. It is confidenceinspiring
that the Government’s Industrial
Strategy seeks to maintain this tradition
by promoting medium-high tech
manufacturing sectors. An effective
Industrial Strategy, combined with a well
resourced Department for International
Trade, could see UK exports maintained
to the EU and expanded outside the EU.
However, the Government’s own
impact analyses confirm manufacturers
will be better off if the UK remains a
member of the Single Market and the
Customs Union. That’s why the Liberal
Democrats will continue to put our
country’s economic interests first, pushing
for an ‘Exit for Brexit’ and if that fails,
backing membership of the Customs
Union and the EEA.
www.tombrake.co.uk
3 www.ppma.co.uk