Chemical makers criticise UK Brexit plan

London – The UK government is making the full transition to Brexit “unnecessarily complex,” according to the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) which represent chemicals and pharma manufacturing sector – the country’s largest exporter of manufactured goods with £50bn annual exports.

London-based CIA wants Westminster to retain existing membership of the single market and customs union, rather than pursue a “close association” with the customs union that still leaves key questions around regulatory continuity, tariff and non-tariff barrier impacts”.

While the government’s latest position would give flexibility to start negotiating other free trade agreements (FTA’s), the EU market remains by far the most critical for chemical imports and exports, Steve Elliott, the association’s chief executive.

“Simultaneous negotiations on new FTAs and our future EU relationship will be inter-related and therefore incredibly complicated,” said Elliot.