The UK chemical industry has highlighted four areas that need to be addressed during Brexit discussions in order for the sector to continue thriving once Britain leaves the European Union (EU).
One of these was having tariff-free access to the single market, which could be done with a free trade agreement.
The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) manifesto stated the UK should try to retain its Customs Union membership during the transitionary period.
According to the organisation, Britain could start to look at trade deals outside of the EU for its contract processing, such as China and the USA.
Steve Elliott, chief executive of the CIA, said: “In common with many internationally competitive sectors of the UK economy, the chemical industry wants to retain tariff-free access to the single market and a reassurance that it can continue to retain and recruit a skilled workforce from both within and outside the country.”
Indeed, one of the points the CIA highlighted in its Brexit report was being able to have access to skilled people who can help advance the industry and keep it improving in the future.
Brexit is likely to deter chemical scientists and engineers from working in the UK once immigration laws tighten. However, CIA stated the sector “needs to be able to recruit from a global population”.
Last month, EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, revealed that the UK is the ninth biggest industrial nation, worth £247 billion in total.
However, it still relies on the skilled workforce of many from overseas to keep the manufacturing industry growing.
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