UK chemicals body advises against hard Brexit

London – UK’s Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has urged the new prime minister Boris Johnson to a ‘secure a deal’ with the European Union, as he prepares to lead the country’s departure from the EU.

A Brexit deal, said the CIA in a 23 July message to Johnson, “fundamentally strengthens the chances of growth and prosperity happening.”

The association urged the new PM and the 27 EU governments to “work constructively and urgently” to avoid a no deal outcome by the end of October, when the UK is set to exit the union.

Frictionless tariff free trade, regulatory consistency and access to skilled people remain the chemical industry’s priorities right across Europe, according to the CIA message.

“Delivering those outcomes will help remove the damaging climate of uncertainty and inject some much-needed business confidence in terms of trade and investment,” it added.

Johnson was elected as the new leader of the UK’s Conservative Party on 23 July, to replace Theresa May who stepped down from the position amid political turmoil.

The former London mayor has vowed to deliver Brexit at the end of October “come what may”, raising fears of a no-deal departure.