The news that British businesses could be given a 21-month transition period after the nation’s exit from the European Union has been greeted positively by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT).
The Government's proposed deal, outlined on 14 November, would allow UK-based concerns to continue to operate as normal until the end of 2021, when any new international trading regulations would come into effect.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said: “For the automotive industry, Brexit is about damage limitation. The outline agreement is a positive step in avoiding the devastating consequences of no-deal and securing a transition period”.
With 80% of cars produced in Britain going to export, manufacturers are concerned that the addition of customs and security processes at ports could slow production and shipping and raise distribution costs.
The temporary maintenance of existing agreements would allow manufacturers to sell more cars and strengthen their market position in the run-up to Britain’s departure from the EU's customs union.
Lack of confirmation, however, remains a problem for UK manufacturers, which, said Hawes, are seeking “certainty and ambition when it comes to securing a competitive future”.
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Whether we are better or
Whether we are better or worse off (in or out of the EU) is immaterial. People here like 'Symanski' fail to understand that people voted politically whether it meant that Britain would be richer or poorer. It's by the way. As Mr Farage has pointed out time and again, we SHOULD just have said to the EU: 'We're leaving no matter what, and in every way, so you come up with a deal that is best for both of us' and then leave them to it. The amount we pay in divorce would be dependent on the deal devised by the EU. Then we simply walk away. If there is harm to the economy, so what, it's what the people decided in a huge turn-out referendum. The choice said stay in or leave - and the people voted leave, with ALL that that means.
Farage admitted to lies.
Mr Farage said many things and then admitted they were all lies, and did so on the morning of the result.
So you voted for a pack of lies from a fraudster. Shouldn't you object to being made a fool of?
Brexit
Come on people,look at the score board. The referendum was won with inexcess of 50% of people voting to exit from the EU.Don't you want to control your own destiny,maintain British sovreignty etc etc. Trade and manufacturing and travel will ultimately be settled.Why would the EU want to stop the millions of tourisim pounds being spent in Europe each year,and conversely for the UK.What you are forgetting is you can have a common agreement without handing control to an unelected Brussels government with it's "agenda",which may not fit the British way.Are you honestly saing the MB/BMW/VAG/Fiat/Puegot groups aill accept a directive from Brussels not to seel vehicles in the UK and vv.Can you imagine Italy saying we won't buy British.
Just get on and adjust to a new market place,the world is changing.
Who wants another 21mths of this?
The uncertainty surrounding Brexit was damaging the industry - that's what the SMMT used to say. The proposal is to extend that uncertainty by 21 months and Mike Hawes is now happy.
Nope, I don't understand that logic either.
"With 80% of cars produced in Britain going to export, manufacturers are concerned that the addition of customs and security processes at ports could slow production and shipping and raise distribution costs"
And how many of that 80% go outside the European union? What about the customs and security already in place? Honda export UK built Civics to the USA, now if that raised distribution costs, why did they choose to build the car in Swindon?
The scaremongering goes on...
scotty5
With all due respect to you, it's even worse than you think. The uncertainty could go on way past 21 months. If we had any competence and honesty at all in government, they should just walk away now in a hard Brexit with no deal. We'll suffer any consequences and move on, but at least we'll have nothing more to do with Tusk's Crazy Club and only pay in divorce what is reasonable (though I would say £0). But of course, May is a remainer, so she wants us to actually have 'No Brexit' and that's why she has mentioned it twice in three days during interviews. That's where we're heading...with no Brexit at all, and all that that means for the future democracy of this country - a thin end of a very thick wedge which ends in fascism. People like 'Symanski' cannot comprehend this. You should be careful what you wish for, as my nan used to say. What this entire thing has shown us is that there are many in power (and on LBC) that don't believe in democracy at all, and think they know how a country (and your life) should be run. You won't need to worry yourself about this voting nonsense. What does history show us that that ends in?