ADS sees Brexit White Paper as good for industry
The aerospace, defence, security and space industries association ADS, has welcomed todays White Paper on the future relationship between the UK and the European Union (EU) as marking a good step forward in addressing businesses concerns.
The Government’s plans set out in the White Paper help to give industry vital certainty ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019.
In particular, industry will welcome the Government’s continued backing for an implementation period that will give businesses time to adapt to new arrangements, and to a proposed UK-EU free trade area for goods.
Retaining UK participation in the successful regulatory regimes of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will be important to minimising disruption and making sure industry continues to benefit from close regulatory alignment.
However, there are important and complex issues still to be resolved, including around customs arrangements, while aviation safety regulators in the UK and EU must start technical discussions as soon as possible.
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 a smooth Brexit we need to avoid the disruption of no deal.
“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.”