Chemical industry making Brexit work for the EU and the UK

The chemical industry in the UK and in Europe has spoken of the importance of an agreed trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association, whose members are chemical and pharmaceutical businesses in the UK said: “The EU remains our biggest customer and supplier, so securing a tariff-free, frictionless free trade agreement is essential. Most crucially creating a parallel UK regulatory regime for chemicals, whilst still needing to meet the legal requirements of our biggest market place under EU REACH will, in our view, bring no commercial or environmental benefit and could put businesses and jobs at risk right across the country. I think we can get a good trade deal without compromising the Brexit wish of the British people”.

Marco Mensink, Director General of Cefic said: “We would like to see an agreement comprising tariff and quota free chemicals trade and the UK staying in REACH and ECHA to ensure full regulatory alignment. We and the UK chemical industry will be working to support all sides in achieving that”.

The industry which is the UK’s biggest manufacturing exporter and Europe’s fourth has nearly 44 billion euro worth of trade flowing between the two jurisdictions. An agreed trade deal will also strengthen the sector’s work that is already delivering significant solutions to global challenges such as climate change.