The big story for the BCC last week was its latest Business Council meeting on Thursday, when members met with the EU Ambassador and the UK’s EU Relations Minister to push the case for a trade reset.
Director General, Shevaun Haviland, and President, Martha Lane Fox, hosted Pedro Serrano and the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP at the HQ of council member, DP World.
They were presented with a joint statement from the BCC and the British Chamber in the EU, setting out some of the changes businesses on both sides want to see. They include….
Negotiate a UK-EU deal which either eliminates or greatly reduces the complexity of exporting food and plant products for SMEs.
Produce a balanced Youth Mobility scheme between the UK and EU, covering school visits and exchanges, and a time-limited ability to work for young people.
Establish a supplementary deal, like Norway’s with the EU, that exempts smaller UK firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative for VAT in the EU.
Negotiate a formal Defence and Security Pact providing clear lines of co-operation and secondary agreements. Allowing UK companies to bid for defence procurement contracts in the EU, in consortia with EU partner companies on a ‘pay to play’ basis.
After the productive meeting with the politicians, BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, told the media:
“The shockwaves from US tariffs are still reverberating through the global trade system as countries scramble to respond. This added cost and uncertainty is very bad for business and the UK and EU must send a clear signal that open and fair trade is in our best interests.
“The summit must go beyond warm words and clearly signal their intention to make it work better.
“If we reduce red-tape and simplify other processes that have added to costs for business then we all benefit.
