FTA: “Brexit talks must make rapid progress to prevent disaster”
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned that the UK government must make sure that the Brexit negotiations – which resumed yesterday (17 July) – must “move ahead with speed to compensate for delays caused by the General Election”. In a statement issued yesterday, Pauline Bastidon, FTA’s Head of European Policy, said: “The clock is ticking and we urgently need agreement on the first phase of negotiations so we can move on to crucial issues such as trade, transport and the establishment of a transition period to allow businesses and authorities alike to adapt.
“If time runs out and this is not discussed, there will be dramatic and potentially disastrous consequences. Without resolution of these issues, we could face restrictions to international freight transport, delays at the borders and disruptions to supply chains. We must urgently start discussing concrete solutions to ensure that trade movements are not impeded.”
The FTA said that, from its perspective, other key issues for the negotiations were citizens’ rights and the Irish border. The FTA said: “It is crucial to protect the rights of citizens so that industry can retain access to the workers it needs. The UK logistics industry relies on EU workers: 13% of drivers and 26% of warehouse operatives are EU nationals.”
Bastidon added: “Supply chains are interlinked, our members in Northern Ireland cross the border up to 30 or 40 times a day in some cases, and we therefore need specific arrangements for the island of Ireland.”
