Another sector - this time aerospace - pleads for the government to pull its finger out on a deal to help protect the 375,000 well paid jobs in the UK.
Quote:
Ministers’ failure to prioritise agreement on aircraft certification standards in Brexit negotiations is threatening the future of the UK’s £34bn-a-year aerospace sector, according to the head of an industry trade body.
“We are now at that critical point where political decisions on the negotiating priorities with Europe need to be made,” said Tony Wood, president of British trade association ADS and chief executive of aerospace supplier Meggitt.
Aerospace executives are frustrated that the government has focused on fishing rights in Brexit negotiations, hindering a wider trade agreement that would help protect the industry’s more than £30bn in exports.
Mr Wood said there appeared to be “higher political priorities in other industries”.
Currently, responsibility for certification lies with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which has mutual recognition agreements with regulators around the world. If there is no deal, however, all UK-designed parts, components and systems for aircraft will become invalid in the EU on January 1...
Big companies such as Rolls-Royce have already shifted design functions out of the UK to the EU to avoid the extra cost. But smaller companies in the supply chain do not have the resources to set up EU-based design offices.
|
https://www.ft.com/content/4e0d5c6d-...0-d0fe904a36a6